Speech #960205035

I think we are making a serious mistake. We do not need an Ambassador at Large. We can handle it much better by an Executive order of the President. which is the way it is done now. as a coordinator to pull the programs together until we get legislation to handle it and we get reports from the Immigration Study Commission. which the gentleman from Illinois mentioned. I think the third and most significant reason why I would urge this body to vote against this is because it does. the effect of this acceptance of the conference report and Senate amendments. is to impose an additional $90 million for Cuban refugees to authorize an additional $90 million for the cost of this program. We do not need that. Now. the reference of the gentlewoman from New York suggested that I was maybe misrepresenting the facts. She implied she had checked with the Congressional Budget Office. and so have I checked with the Congressional Budget Office. R 1540 I now represent to this House that after April 1. 1981. no refugee will be entitled to 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 the United States before October 1. 1978. and may have arrived as long ago as 18 years may provide the basis for reimbursement of certain nonFederal costs. In order to emphasize again what I am talking about. I urge you to pick up the conference report and turn to page 17 of the conference report. You will see at the bottom of the page. subparagraph (c) : in lieu of any assistance which may otherwise be provided under such sectionAnd that is a reference to the appropriate sectionwith respect to Cuban refugees who entered the United States and were receiving assistance under section 2(b) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962Which we are now changingbefore October 1. 1978. Let me repeat. in lieu of any assistance which may otherwise be provided under such section with respect to Cuban refugees who entered the United States and were receiving assistance before October 1. 1978. the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement is authorized to provide reimbursement. Then it ticks them off. In fiscal year 1980. it is 75 percent.