Congressional oversight is the proper method of assuring ourselves that the office in question is in fact carrying out the responsibilities given to it by this legislation. Mr. Chairman. the goal of resettlement policy should be to get the refugee out of a temporarily unemployed situation. meet their health needs in an environment where they can overcome language barriers and develop their skills to become selfsupporting. contributing members of society. If this goal is accepted. language training and skill developments are fundamental to successful resettlement. I. therefore. believe that the cooperation of the Department of Education and the Department of Labor are important. The second part of my amendment. therefore. contains an affirmative requirement that the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor make yearly report3 as to the efforts of their respective departments to increase refugees access to programs within their jurisdiction. Involvement of these departments was strongly urged in an excellent analysis of refugee resettlement in the United States prepared last summer by the New Transcentury Foundation. This additional language fortifies the interdepartment cooperation intended by other language in this title. I want to make it clear that by offering this amendment. I do not object to the functions described in the language that is being stricken. The amendment retains the Office of Refugee Resettlement reporting directly to the Secretary of HEW. I am sure that as this office is established. our committee will be aware of the steps it takes to perform its duties and make our ideas known in that regard. I feel this amendment simplifies title HI without reducing the authority granted to implement a viable refugee resettlement policy. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
Keywords matched
Refugee refugee refugees