Speech #970134426

That. unfortunately. is the situation today. and that situation must be turned around. Fourth. we must do something about the magnet that attracts people to the United States. and that is jobs. We must have a system to verify whether a person who applies for a job is entitled. under the immigration laws. to hold that job. We know that people come here to get jobs. We have to let people know if they apply for a job. they will be caught and deported. The bill we are introducing today is intended to bring State and local governments. which are so vitally affected by refugee policy. into the decisionmaking process. These governments are being forced to assume a larger responsibility for refugee assistance and often have little say in terms of refugee resettlement decisions. I believe that there is a clear need for more involvement of these affected parties. It is neither correct nor equitable to exclude these governments by the claim that refugee resettlement is essentially a foreign policy matter. There is a great deal more than foreign policy involved. What is involved is a great many questions and concerns relative to the ability of a community to absorb a significant number of refugees. Are there job opportunities for these people? Is there available housing? Is the educational system equipped to meet the special needs of a refugee population? What level of financial assistance from the local tax base will be required? These are major concerns to be addressed in determining the most appropriate location for refugees. And yet they are not being sufficiently addressed because those who are in a position to speak to these concerns are not being consulted. This bill will help to rectify that situation. In order to provide for greater involvement of State and local governments. the bill would provide that those governments which are the primary areas of refugee resettlement be consulted in regard to projected refugee admission. Second. it will guarantee that State and local governments will be provided an opportunity to participate in the public hearings which are required to be held. Mr. President. I sincerely hope that Congress will make the development of a new immigration policy a top priority in the next session of this Congress. As we move in this direction. I believe a very necessary step will be inclusive of State and local government in the decisionmaking process for refugee policy.