Mr. Chairman. I would like to direct the attention of my friend from California to that part of the report which appears on page 216. and I quote as follows: Approval of this rescission does not reflect any change in refugee policy on the part of either the President or the Congress. These savings accrue because of lower than anticipated costs in several of the refugee programsprincipally because fewer refugees are arriving than was anticipated .... The Presidents rescission proposal assumes that 168.000 Indochinese would arrive during 1981. Only 60.000 have arrived during the first 6 months of the year and the Committee believes it is unlikely that more than 140.000 will actually arrive this year. I would further like to say to my friend from California that the committee recommendation does not in any way restrict the number of refugees who can be admitted to this country. It does. however. reduce the estimates for public assistance since it is clear that the number of refugees needing assistance will be lower than originally anticipated. The committee recommendation is based on testimony by the Department of Health and Human Services on April 28. and I would like to further state to my friend from California that in our subcommittee we believe that. based on this testimony. that the $74.8 million rescission can be approved without harming the refugees or the States. Further. the Department testified that should the amounts remaining be inadequate to fully fund cash and medical assistance costs. they would recommend a supplemental or additional appropriations to the 1982 budget. which the gentleman knows is now under consideration in our subcommittee. We believe on our subcommittee that our current estimates are accurate. but if they turn out to be wrong. we will have an opportunity to provide more funds at a later date.
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