Speech #960204997

I thank the gentleman. I want to emphasize again the importance of this legislation and the real reason we need this legislation is to return to the Congress control over the number of refugees. If the President of the United States in a moment of euphoria says to the rest of the world. "We will take in 168.000 people." without serious consultation. without congressional approval. we can do something about it if we have this legislative veto. But in the absence of that legislative veto. we really have not retained the control that Congress ought to have. So the first reason I urge the Members to reject this conference report will be because the conference has rejected the traditional legislative veto. which the House so badly needs and has so frequently affirmed. The second reason I would ask you to vote against this is because it has authorization within this bill for $90 million of additional money for the Cuban refugee program beyond the Housepassed bill. After April 1. 1981. under this bill no refugee will be entitled to the assistance provided by this act unless he or she has been in the country for less than 3 years. except that certain Cuban refugees who entered before October 1. 1978. and may have arrived as long ago as 18 years. may provide the basis for reimbursement of certain nonFederal costs. The amount of dollars it is estimated this legislation will authorize for the Cuban exception which accrues after April 1. 1981. is $90 million. Authorization for this $90 million was not included in the House bill.