Her family went to Brazil where they met an American consul who luckily had been befriended in South Africa by my wifes uncle. So in that rather unsystematic way. my wife and her family were able to come to this country. Certainly. a bill like S. 683. which systematizes and establishes a permanent procedure for refugees. is well in order. It really is in the best interest of the United States. The United States is the only country that is a country of refugees. We are the only country in the world that is a genuine country of the refugees which has been energized and given substance by people who came to our country to start anew. This act also provides for domestic assistance to refugees. assistance to help them make the necessary transition and to join the great family we call American. When my family came to the United States there was no such assistance. This particular act limits the time period of that assistance. and I must say I approve of that. And. I imagine that the refugees who come to this country would approve of it as well. If history is any type of precedence. they will quickly adapt and become very constructive members in our society. Mr. President. this bill provides for the immigration of about 50.000 refugees a year. 50.000 refugees would only be onefiftieth of 1 percent of the population of the United States. Even if you add this 50.000 to the 290.000 immigrants who are currently allowed to enter the United States each year under the immigration quota. (which makes 340.000) this is still only oneseventh of 1 percent of the population of our country. This is certainly not an influx. certainly not a horde that is going to jeopardize jobs for Americans. certainly not such a large group of people that we need to be concerned about the budgetary impact. But. indeed. it is a group of people who are going to reenergize us once again.
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Refugees will quickly adapt and become constructive members of society.