Mr. Speaker. the Honorable HAMILTON FISH. JR.. the ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on Immigration. Refugees. and International Law. which I have the honor to chair. recently delivered an excellent and thoughtprovoking address on the various refugee resettlement problems confronting this country. His comments reflect the need for taking a careful look at our current resettlement policies. particularly as our subcommittee embarks upon its legislative task of reauthorizing the Refugee Act of 1980 during this session of the 97th Congress. Congressman FISH makes several important administrative and legislative recommendations to improve the operation of our resettlement program and recognizes the need to share the resettlement burden on a more equitable nationwide basis. In his speech. he also addresses the need to develop more reasonable refugee placement policies and the desirability of a cooperative effort between the Federal. State. and local governments and the voluntary agencies in the development of those policies. Congressman FISH also quite properly criticizes the "ready availability of prolonged cash assistance to refugees" and notes that the United States "is acculturating refugees to welfare and turning them into a dependent population." I fully share Congressman FISHs concerns that refugees are relying on our welfare programs in increasing numbers and that dramatic measures must be taken to reduce the current welfare caseload. Because of the importance and timeliness of Congressman FISHS remarks. I wish to insert them into the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD at this point so that they can be shared with my colleagues:
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