Speech #960322715

Mr. Speaker. on August 18. 1980. I voiced my strong support for the passage of H.R. 7859. which provides general assistance and special impact aid to local educational agencies for the education of Cuban and Haitian refugee children and to provide assistance to State education agencies for the education of Cuban and Haitian refugee adults. Today. the House is being asked to vote on H.R. 7859 with a new provision which will authorize the President to grant the same benefits to Cubans and Haitian entrants to which other refugees are entitled. I am particularly concerned about who will actually be covered by this legislation. The bill language presently defines an entrant as any individual who has been paroled as a CubanHaitian entrant or given some other special immigration status. subsequently established under the immigration laws. for nationals of Cuba and Haiti or any Cuban or Haitian national who is known to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Two groups are not included in the CubanHaitian entrant program and therefore raise some serious concerns about a continuing fiscal burden on States and localities. While the postJune 19 arrivals are covered. by FascellStone for the purpose of benefits. they are not part of the CubanHaitian entrant program.