Speech #960105963

I am told that these amendments are acceptable to the Judiciary Committee on both the majority and minority side. Also. these amendments have been shown to the administration and it does not oppose them. I believe that amendments will go a long way toward establishing an effective means of establishing reasonable refugee admissions into this country. They will strengthen the consultation requirement with Congress. provide a more effective screening device for admitting refugees above the normal flow level. and assure a timely congressional review of the new quotas. I still believe that we have a long way to go before establishing a comprehensive and rational immigration policy but. I am convinced that this is a good beginning. This bill and the amendments have generated a great deal of discussion about our immigration policy and. in the final analysis. it will be this public attention which will be determinative. S. 643 still has to undergo close scrutiny in the House and I am certain that some of the discussions which began here in the Senate will be carried on there. The first amendment would firmly establish that the whole Congress shall have input into a decision to increase the refugee admissions before that decision is finalized. The amendment would require the President to provide detailed information on: First. description of the refugee situation. Second. a description of the refugees who may be admitted. plans for their resettlement. estimated cost of their resettlement. analysis of their resettleability. and an analysis of conditions within the countries from which they originated: Third. an analysis of the anticipated social. economic and demographic impact to the United States. Fourth. a description of the extent to which other countries will admit and assist in the resettlement of such refugees. Fifth. an analysis of the impact of the United States participation in the re-. settlement of such refugees on U.S. foreign policy interests. and Sixth. such additional information as may be appropriate. Further. it would require the Judiciary Committee to hold public hearings on the proposal to admit more than the normal flow and to issue a report on the proposal within 30 days. Members of Congress will have the opportunity to either agree or disagree with the proposal at the hearings. In the event that Members do not have a prior opinion on the proposal. they will have the benefit of rece iving all the facts in the form of a committee report. This is a tremendous improvement over the. present informal method of deciding to admit large numbers of refugees before the whole Congress is fully aware of the details. I believe that this amendment will firmly establish the principal that Congress. as a whole. will establish immigration policy for the country in an informed and open manner. I believe the manager of the bill has indicated that this would be acceptable.