Mr. Chairman. this amendment merely clarifies the authority of the Secretary of State over the U.S. refugee program overseas. Specifically. it grants authority to the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement to develop domestic programs for refugee resettlement. while leaving to the Secretary of State the conduct of our refugee activities overseas. It makes no change in the authority of the Office of U.S. Coordinator for Refugee Affairs. whose job it is to coordinate U.S. foreign and domestic refugee activities. while leaving to HEW or its successor the daytoday conduct of domestic resettlement programs. If left as currently worded. H.R. 2816 would permit negotiations with foreign governments on refugee matters by agencies other than the Department of State. This is purely a foreign policy matter and must remain with the department duly constituted for that purpose. I understand the Judiciary Committee favors this amendment and I urge the support of my colleagues.
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