Speech #960322711

I rise in strong support of H.R. 7859. This bill has passed the House before. the education titles in August. and the provisions for other assistance in June. as part of the International Security and Development Assistance Act. I urge my colleagues to support this bill today. so that our earlier actions can at last be carried out. and so that badly needed funds can begin getting to those communities which have been most heavily impacted by the recent flow of Cuban and Haitian refugees. Mr. Speaker. since the "Freedom Flotilla" began in April. tens of thousands of new residents have descended on south Florida. an area already facing various tensions. including shortages of housing and jobs. The change in our community has been very distressing. I have recently written to President Carter to express my dismay at the effects of Federal policy and to suggest some longer term solutions such as finding ways to return those Cubans who want to go home to Cuba. and developing programs to resettle those refugees without family dn south Florida outside of our State. In the meantime. the situation in south Florida. and in other communities is critical. Congress in the socalled Lehman amendment appropriated $100 million in the 1980 supplemental appropriations bill for reimbursements to State and local governmental agencies which provide necessary services to the refugees. Local governments. and local taxpayers. are still bearing the full cost of services alone. for lack of an authorization. This bill provides the needed authorization and must be enacted as soon as possible.