Speech #960152294

I am pleased to join with the chairman in support of the proposed legislation. The passage of this bill marks the culmination of congressional efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Cambodia. As you know. those efforts began in June when eight Members of the House and Senate joined in a letter to the President calling for immediate humanitarian assistance to the countless thousands of Cambodian refugees then along the ThaiCambodian border. Legislative action began on September 26. with the introduction by the members of the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs of House Resolution 431. a resolution calling on the President to seek an emergency agenda item before the United Nations General Assembly to inaugurate an emergency food and medical relief program for the people of Cambodia. On September 27. the Honorable JOHN ANDERSON of Illinois. and the Honorable STEPHEN SOLARZ. of New York. introduced H.R. 5443 and on October 9.