Speech #960146285

It is not an endorsement or a condemnation or a moral judgment on the government. such as it may be. that is in power in Cambodia. but simply a response of human beings to the suffering of other human beings. many of whom are innocent infants who are faced with certain death if outside countries do not respond quickly to this tragic problem. The need for other countries to do more should not be used as a reason for the United States to do less. I think President Carter is to be commended for his decision to increase the number of refugees that we would accept. This will not be easy. Obviously. it will produce some anxiety among some of our own people. at a time when jobs are in short supply. that we undergo an influx of additional people who will need employment. On the other hand. we should not exaggerate the difficulties. Over threefourths of the Indochinese refugees who have already come are already basically selfsupporting within a year of their arrival. and a large percent of them are working at jobs that are unattractive to many Americans. We must. of course. make sure that helping the refugees does not hurt American citizens who are concerned about unemployment and inflation. Sound and imaginative Government policies dealing with energy and the economy are needed so that all can benefit from the great opportunities available in the United States. Finally. Mr. President. no effort to deal with the Southeast Asian refugees will be successful unless there is a diplomatic solution to the conflicts in that area. I would like to add that I believe the Senate has an excellent record of responding to these tragic situations. We have demonstrated our concern time and time again. and once more we have the opportunity through this legislation to put that concern into concrete terms.