The final increase. Mr. President. was one which has been made by the Congress every fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 1973: a congressionally initiated appropriation for aid to refugees from the Soviet Union. For this purpose in fiscal year 1976. the committee has recommended a $20 million appropriation and an expansion of the coverage to include refugees from Eastern Europe. In addition to the authorization of fiscal year 1976 appropriations. Mr. President. the committee approved a number of amendments designedas I Indicated earlierto shape executive branch procedure and policy in the conduct of American foreign relations I shall summarize some of these briefly: First. At the initiation of Senator McGEE. the bill would establish a new $25 million U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund to be available to meet unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs. Under present law. in any year the President may transfer as much as $10 million of foreign aid funds to augment funds appropriated for migration and refugee assistance. The new emergency fund would be an alternative to the transfer authority approach. Once created through this authorization and the necessary appropriation. the fund would be available to meet emergency needs as determined by the President.
Keywords matched
Refugee refugee refugees