Speech #960183796

Mr. Chairman. this amendment goes to the heart of this bill and in effect guts it entirely. It erodes the main purpose of the bill. which is to a systematic and effective method of refugee resettlement in this country. Title III. as proposed by the administration and adpoted by the other body. is in essence a blank check to the executive branch which says. "Resettle refugees in any way you like." Well. I think if we look at the arguments on the last amendment. we can see that there is a lot to be desired with respect to how refugees are resettled in this country. Let me just describe what title III does and why title III must be retained in its present form. Let us start with the refugees before they come to the United States. Anyone from the Congress who has been abroad to visit refugee centers knows how much time is wasted as the result of the failure to provide refugees coming to this country with orientation or language training while in camp. Members have debated the fact that many refugees are not familiar with our life style. our culture and our mores. Why cannot these refugees receive some basic orientation to life in this country. as they wait months and years in refugee camps before coming to the United States. This bill requires such orientation and language training in refugee camps abroad for people coming to the United States. The gentlemans amendment would wipe that provision out. Second. let us focus on the distribution of refugees in the United States. The Representatives from California have argued eloquently about the number of refugees who have settled in California. Up to now. the States have played no role. and the Federal Government has played no role in the question of where refugees are resettled in this country. On the other hand. title III explicitly allows for participation by the States and the Federal Government in the crucial decision of where refugees would be settled in this country. The gentlemans amendment would wipe that provision out and leave the entire decisionmaking process to private organizations. This bill sets up careful and explicit requirements regarding medical screening. There was a question on the floor about exotic and tropical diseases that refugees might have. We have no system now for following up with refugees who come here with medical problems. This bill will set up such a system. The amendment would strike that provision out.