Speech #960253684

For the short term most of them are being located in three States: Florida. where they arrived. Arkansas. and Pennsylvania. If our experience with the recent influx of Indochinese refugees is a reliable indicator. a good portion of the Cuban refugees will end up in the same State where they began their life in the United States. For example. some 22.000 Indochinese refugees originally came to Pennsylvania. Today some 12.000 to 15.000 are there. not necessarily the original arrivals. but also others attracted by the growing Indochinese presence in the State. My State has welcomed these refugees as we will welcome the Cubans who choose to stay in Pennsylvania. I have confidence. based on my personal visit to Fort Indiantown Gap and my conversations with many of the refugees there. that they will become hardworking. productive citizens that those of us already here will be proud to have among us. At the same time. however. over the short term the refugees present a significant financial burden to the States where they are being located. While the refugees are located in a Federal installation like Fort Indiantown Gap or Fort Chaffee. the Federal Government is paying the bills. Ultimately. however. the Cubans will be resettled. Those who remain in Pennsylvania will be eligible for unemployment compensation. job training. public assistance. and housing and numerous other Statesupported programs. This will represent a significant additional burden to State and local governments. already hard pressed by the likelihood of reductions in Federal revenue sharing. inflation. unemployment. and the recession. At the same time. I do not think there is any disagreement that we are faced with a national problem and a national responsibility to deal with the refugees in a fair and equitable manner. The recently enacted Refugee Act of 1980. Public Law 96212. provides one means of meeting that responsibility. Designating the Cubans as refugees within the meaning of that act opens the door of eligibility to a variety of Federal programs and to reimbursement for the State and local share of these programs. Potential expenditures include a 100percent reimbursement of the State and local share of social programs such as medicaid and aid to families with dependent children. full reimbursement of costs for special resettlement services such as English language and other training. and social and employment services. full reimbursement for other expenses such as public safety. Although I believe such a designation for the Cubans is an appropriate course of action. and have introduced a resolution.