Speech #960100626

Rescue Spurs Flight. Boat People Say." which stated that: The U.S. Navys mission to rescue refugees in the South China Sea is encouraging more Vietnamese to flee their homeland. rescued "boat people" said yesterday.... All those rescued said they had been planning to leave Vietnam but set out when they did because they heard of Carters order and hoped to be spotted. I can understand the desire to offer every assistance to these people. However. in the final analysis we have accomplished little if we lure more people to make the escape attempt. I believe that the refugee bill. S. 643. which has recently been reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee. will perpetuate this pushpull tragedy. The bill continues our openended policy on refugee admissions by not establishing firm procedures for setting admission levels. If this bill is passed the word will again go out to dissatisfied thousands. many of whom will be encouraged to try to get in the long line of refugees who are already waiting to get into the United States. Perhaps the American people have a greater understanding of the forces at play here than the administration. An NBCAssociated Press poll released on July 20. 1979. showed that "only onefourth of the public favors the entry of additional refugees. Twothirds are opposed to this effort." This response was in regard to proposals to double the number of Vietnamese refugees admitted. I believe that we as elected officials would do well to pay heed to views of the public on this issue.@