Speech #970135752

In Washington State. the Impact of reducing the eligibility limitation period to 18 months will be felt with crippling effect. According to Washington States Department of Health and Social Services. cash and medical assistance will be terminated for 43 percent of the States current recipientsequal to 3.793 cases or 9.141 persons. Assuming this proposal goes into effect in March. 11.500 refugees will be cut off from receiving Federal assistance by September of this year. In Washington State. there are no State assistance progsrams to supplement or substitute for a reduction in Federal funding for refugee cash and medical assistance. Washington States general assistance program is restricted to cases of unemployment disability. The States aid to dependent children fund only provides for single parent households. It is doubtful that any additional refugee assistance funds can be appropriated on the State level considering Washingtons financial problems and high unemployment. If the 18month eligibility proposal is Implemented. refugee families in the State of Washington will be forced to either split up to comply with State AFDC requirements or move to a State such as California which does provide general assistance funds for refugees. Even the strong community network of Washington State volunteer agencies. refugee mutual assistance associations. churches. and food banks will be unable to compensate for reductions in assistance brought about by this proposal. According to calculations made by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. 30 percent of the administrations entire budgetary savings resulting from a reduction in the eligibility limitation period will come from terminating cash and medical assistance for refugees in Washington and Oregon. This is an unfair share of the financial burden to impose on a State such as Washington. which has been dedicated to effectively resettling. educating. and employing 31.000 refugees. Washingtons is the largest State refugee population In the country. Forcing refugees out of States which have become their home to seek financial assistance in new areas disrupts families and communities without guaranteeing budgetary savings to the Federal Government. The following policy options should be considered before Secretary Schwelkers proposal to reduce the eligibility period to 18 months is allowed to go into effect: (1) Refugee singleparent families. twopart families. and childless couples should all receive Federal cash assistance for 24 months. 18 months would not allow a reasonable time for developing selfsufficiency. (2) All refugees should receive medical coverage a full 36 months. regardless of their eligibility for other forms of Federal assistance. This would insure that health care would be provided for refugees having a difficult time adjusting or finding employment. (3) The present State eligibility formula used by the Office of Refugee Resettlement for determining State allocation of Federal assisttnce funds should be adjusted to reflect secondary migration of refugees from one State to another. as part of a States total refugee population. In conclusion. I must remind my colleagues that the Refugee AcI of 1980 was based on the congressional consensus that a full 36month refugee assistance program was essential to provide the basic educational and social training necessary for refugees to communicate and find employment within this society. If. due to budgetary restraints. Federal assistance for refugees must be reduced. It should be done as humanely as possible. Reducing the 36month eligibility period to 18 months. witlout compensating States that do not receive Federal funds for general assistance programs which include refugees as eligible recipients. will only work to displace a large number of refugees and their families without providing a real solution to this complex problem.e