Mr. Speaker. in February and April of 1980. President Carter submitted reports to Congress that were required under the Supplemental Refugee Assistance Act and the Refugee Act of 1980. These reports illustrate the need for a meaningful change in the laws pertaining to our policy toward immigrants and refugees. For example. it was reported that the total cost borne by Federal. State. and local governments for refugee assistance abroad and in this country is estimated to be $1.7 billion in fiscal year 1980 and $2.112 billion for fiscal year 1981. Also. in the past few years. the United States has accepted over 300.000 Indochinese refugees. which is more than 40 percent of the refugees that have been resettled in the world. Congress must not overlook the fact that this Nation is faced with a longterm energy crisis. resource scarcity. inflation. and unemploymentall of which are further strained by population increases. We must begin to count the future costs in making the decision to continue to admit a great number of refugees. By saying that the United States will always be open to increasing numbers of refugees. we cannot hope to secure commitments from other nations to accept greater numbers of refugees. The United States must adopt policies which will encourage others to act in a humanitarian manner and which is fair to American citizens as well.
Keywords matched
Refugee immigrants refugee refugees