Speech #960278863

Mr. Speaker. this motion to recommit with instructions is designed to do just one thing. All of us know that the country is inundated. or at least filled. with refugees from Cuba. from Haiti. and from other parts of the world. Currently the administration is taking a line that says that each State which has these refugees must pick up 25 percent of the cost of housing those refugees. We believe that to be a breach of faith. In my own State of Pennsylvania we have willingly and gladly accepted many tens of thousands of Cubans at Indiantown Gap. We did so under assurances by the administrationand my colleague. the gentleman from Pennsylvania has worked long and hard with the administration to get assurancesthat this would be 100 percent federally funded. as. indeed. it ought to be. Unhappily. the administration has now changed its views and has told us that 25 percent of the cost of housing those refugees in my State. and in any other State that sees fit to welcome them within their borders. we will be required to pick up. I have an editorial from the Washington Post which sums it up thoroughly and says: "This is a national responsibility." I would hope that the House could on a voice vote instruct the administration that this is. indeed. a national responsibility. and concur with my friend. the gentleman from Pennsylvania. and say it is a 100 percent responsibility.