Speech #960290935

Congressman STACK. our colleague from Florida. deserves credit for his leadership in introducing this bill and working hard to see it through committee. Let me describe some of its major provisions. H.R. 7859 authorizes three types of assistance to State educational agencies for refugee education. At the outset. I want to make clear that Cuban and Haitian emigres who entered the United States after November 1. 1979. are eligible to participate in the programs under this bill. including those Cubans and Haitians who are not technically considered "refugees" but whose status is pending under administration policy. Title II of the bill authorizes grants for fiscal years 1981 through 1983 to assist local educational agencies in providing basic education to Cuban and Haitian refugee children. The purpose of this title is to meet the minimal needs of all districts with Cuban and Haitian refugees. These funds are to be distributed on the basis of numbers of Cuban and Haitian refugee children enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools. times a fiat rate of $450 per child. Title III of the bill would provide an additional grant to those districts with the most urgent need and the greatest burdens. Cuban and Haitian refugee children. as well as Indochinese refugee children entering the United States after January 1. 1979. who are enrolled in public and 1:rivate elementary and secondary schools are counted for purposes of the Title III program. School districts qualify for Title III aid if their numbers of eligible refugee children equal at least 500 or 5 percent of their total enrollment. whichever is less. Grants are calculated on a sliding scale of $750 per eligible refugee child in the first year of attendance. $500 per child in the second year of attendance. and $350 per child in the third year. Title IV of H.R. 7859 authorizes grants for fiscal years 1982 and 1983 for adult education programs for Cuban and Haitian refugees. These programs can be provided by the State educational agency. or by local educational agencies and public or private nonprofit agencies. organizations or institutions. Allocations are based on the number of Cuban aind Haitian refugees aged 16 or older enrolled in adult education programs in a State. times a flat rate of $300 per adult. The bill authorizes such sums as may be necessary for the three titles. However.