I am pleased to join the gentlelady from New York in support of the bill. H.R. 2816. as reported from our committee. This bill we report will replace the present system requiring ad hoc responses to refugee emergencies with a rational system for refugee admissions and resettlement. This bill broadens the existing definition of "refugee" to conform to the United Nations Convention definition. It provides for a normal flow of 50.000 refugees per yearup from the present number of 17.400. The President is authorized to admit an unlimited number of refugees after consultation with Members of Congress for additional normal flow refugees anticipated before the beginning of a fiscal year. Additionally as unforeseen emergen:y situations arising after the beginning of a fiscal year. the President under restrictive conditions and consultation may admit further refugees. Title III of the bill establishes an office of refugee resettlement directly responsible to the Secretary of HEW. to direct programs providing for resettlement assistance to refugees admitted to the United States. The bill would authorize job and language training. provide full reimbursement to States for cash and medical assistance provided to refugees for up to 4 years after their arrival in this country. While consolidation of resettlement assistance in one office after a period of adjustment is an efficient procedure. I want to point out that by an amendment to be offered by the chairwoman of the subcommittee. the Office of Refugee Coordination will be placed in the White House and is expected. in fact. to be the overall coordinator of activities that inevitably involve several departments of Government in addition to Health and Welfare. This bill represents a statement of a new U.S. policy toward refugees. principally a focus on the humanitarian plight of the refugee. The policy is expressed in the new definition of refugee. a person unable to avail himself of the protection of his country "because of persecution or a well founded fear of persecution on account of race. religion. nationality. membership in a particular social group. or political opinion." The policy is expressed with reference to admissions. Additions to normal flow of 50.000 a year must be warranted by "humanitarian concerns." Emergency admissions must be warranted by "grave humanitarian concerns." The latter is a stricter standard intended to limit the emergency admission procedure to situations where refugees lives are in immediate jeopardy or their personal safety is threatened. With respect to the allocation of numbers of refugees to be admitted. among different groups of refugees. the term "special humanitarian concerns" defines those who will be admitted. The bill as it came to the committee had a standard of special concern and the word humanitarian was added to emphasize that the plight of the refugees themselves is paramount as opposed to national origins. political considerations or a possible contribution by the United States to the refugee condition. Consultation with Congress extends to allocations as well as admissions. The committee report sets forth some of the historical considerations that can provide guidance as to persons who are in fact of humanitarian concern to this country. These include patterns of human rights violations in the refugees country of origin. family. historical. cultural and religious ties to this country. the likelihood of finding sanctuary elsewhere. and previous contact with the U.S. Government or U.S. businesses abroad. A second policy goal is to establish a long term political mechanism to respond to refugee problems as they may arise. For the first time. this bill would establish in one statute both admissions and resettlement policies. This will assure the international community of the continuing commitment of the United States to resettlement and also will assure State and local governments of Federal assistance for refugees admitted so they will not be an undue burden on State and local communities. Mr. Chairman. the bill makes consultation a statutory requirement. rather than a custom. as it is now. before refugees beyond the number authorized by statute can be admitted to this country. Section 207(e) of this proposed legislation sets forth information that must be submitted as part of the consultation process. including a description of resettlement plans and anticipated economic. social. and demographic impact of the admission of refugees in question. The substance of the consultation will be communicated to the Congress. The actual process will be by an amendment which will be accepted. enlarged to embrace all concerned Judiciary Committee members. Enactment of this legislation will result in several significant improvements in our system providing for the admission of refugees. I believe it represents a clear statement of a new U.S. policy toward the unfortunate victims of persecution. It will enable our Government to respond to refugee situations. not on an ad hoc basis as it must do now. but under prescribed and orderly procedures. Enactment of this bill will be a signal to all in this country and throughout the world of the continuing commitment of the United States to refugees in their plight. In the course of the amending process. I shall accept not only the amendment providing for enlarging the consultive process to be offered by Mr.
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