Speech #960322725

While I support the Senate amendmentsas I supported the $100 million appropriation for these two 1 groups of aliens. I wish to express several concerns regarding the amendment. First of all. it should be made clear that the Senate amendment has no effect on the immigration status of Cubans and Haitians who have entered the United States in violation of our immigration laws. Legislation addressing the legal status of these individuals has been introduced by the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee. the Honorable PETER W. RODINO. Jr. at the request of the administration. Likewise. I am concerned that the amendment not be construed to allow funds appropriated for the domestic resettlement of refugees to be used for Cuban/Haitian entrants. In this regard. the Judiciary Committee last week consulted on the administrations refugee admissions program for fiscal year 1981 and that program calls for the admission of 217.000 qualified refugees. Yesterday. the chairman of the committee. the Honorable PETER W. RODINO. Jr.. the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Immigration. Refugees. and International Law. ELIZABETH HOLTZMAN. and I addressed a letter to the President expressing our hope that adequate funding be made available to support the 217.000 admissions level. I would like to insert at this point in the RECORD pertinent excerpts from our letter to the President. We are troubled by the fact that the legislative history accompanying H.R. 7998. "Departments of Labor. Health and Human Services. and Education. and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill. 1981" could be interpreted to allow certain refugee funds to be used for Cuban/Haitian entrants. We believe that funds appropriated under H.R. 7998 for the domestic resettlement of refugees should be expended solely for persons classified as "refugees." In short. we are concerned that a reallocation of the s690 million to Cuban/ Haitian entrants could affect the integrity of the refugee admissions program which has been the subject of our consultation. Since the legislative history surrounding H.R. 7998 grants the Administration "the maximum amount of flexibility in allocating these I resources." we trust that the aforementioned views will be given careful consideration and that we will be consulted concerning the expenditure of such funds. In short. Mr. Speaker. it is my firm - hope and expectation that this amendi ment will not allow domestic refugee funds to be diverted to Cuban/Haitian entrants. In the event additional funds are required over and above those already apI propriated. it is my strong belief that the administration should seek separate funding for Cuban/Haitian entrants so I that our refugee admissions program is not adversely affected.