Mr. Speaker. I would like to address the horror which continues to face Vietnamese citizens and refugees who are desperately trying to leave the oppression of their homeland. While I recognize that some progress has been made pursuant to the recent Geneva Conference. the help which has been pledged. the assurances which have been given. and the meeting of minds at the convention have yet to provide the boat people and Vietnamese people with concrete relief from their dreadful plight. The Vietnamese Government has proclaimed that it will "make every effort to stop illegal departures" of refugees from Vietnam. ostensibly to ease the burden of those nations of first asylum. While I realize the necessity to provide such relief at this time. I want to make it clear that this can only be sanctioned as a temporary relief measure. Emigration should proceed legally and efficiently. and I am therefore asking the President to vigorously pursue the establishment of a consular office in Vietnam to insure that those who wish to leave the country are provided with assistance in doing so. More immediately pressing is the need to rescue seabound refugees. provide them with medical care. supplies. and food. and airlift those who have been approved for admission to the United States to our country as quickly as possible. We need to process and resettle these people as swiftly as possible and permit the thousands of eager Americans waiting to help them to proceed with their humanitarian efforts. While strides have been made in this regard. much. much more can be done. Our airlifts should include medical teams ready to treat the suffering and diseaseridden refugees to the greatest extent possible. Transit centers should be established. equipped with medical care and coordinators for private sector and volunteer assistance. We must redouble our efforts to end the misery
Keywords matched
Emigration refugees