Speech #960137159

I will not go into the specific details underlying this additional executive branch request as that will be ably done by the chairman of the subcommittee. I do. however. want to emphasize two points concerning the urgent need and justification for this legislation. First. the Indochinese refugee situation has significantly worsened since Congress approved the initial executive branch request. During the period from January through July 1979. the numbers of Indochinese "boat" and "land" refugees soared increasing the total Indochinese refugee camp population to over 375.000 as of August 1. 1979. Although camp populations in the firstasylum countries have decreased somewhat due to the increased absorption rate pledged by the United States and other countries at the July Refugee Conference in Geneva and refugees arriving by boat have temporarily declined as a result of weather conditions and the moratorium announced by Vietnam. the situation remains extremely serious. The numbers of Cambodian refugees fleeing famine conditions and the Vietnamese offensive in their country have dramatically increased in recent days and the possible recurrence of the SinoVietnamese border conflict could again force large numbers of ethnic Chinese in Vietnam to flee. With respect to the ominous situation in Cambodia. the Committee on Foreign Affairs will mark up legislation this coming Wednesday designed to permit increased U.S. participation In the Cambodian famine relief program now underway under the direction of the childrens fund and the International Red Cross. The second point I would like to make concerning this legislation is that the United States is not shouldering the Indochinese refugee burden alone. At the Geneva Indochinese Refugee Conference held last July. some 37 nations pledged themselves to accept resettlement of 123.500 refugees by June 30. 1980. These pledges are in addition to the monthly rate of 14.000 pledged by the United States. With respect to the costs of care and maintenance of the refugees residing in camps. Japan agreed at the Conference to finance 50 percent of the Indochinese program of the U.N. High Commissioner for refugees thus enabling the United States to reduce its percentage of contributions for this effort. Finally. Mr.