Speech #970191007

I want to join in commending the chairman and the ranking member of the subcommittee on bringing this extremely important legislation to the floor of the House. and I certainly want to emphasize that nothing I say should be interpreted as indicating any desire for delay in action on this legislation. I cannot think of anything that is more important for us to act upon promptly than this. I know that we who have seen the report of the Conference of Mayors on the news today will recognize that this is of extreme importance to those urban areas of our country which are impacted by large numbers of refugees. While we think of Florida and California perhaps as being the principal points of arrival of refugees. I think we should also recognize that New York and other urban areas likewise have large numbers of refugees. The Chicago area of Illinois. including several communities in my congressional district. are impacted substantially by refugees from various overseas countries. These impacted areas will benefit from this refugee assistance program. I also want to recall that the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy. on which the gentleman from New York and I servedwith the contribution of the gentleman from Kentucky during the final daysgave thoughtful consideration to this subject as well as the more comprehensive subject of immigration. Immigration reform is going to be covered in legislation which will come to the floor of the House soon. I hope. H.R. 5879 as introduced did call for a 3year authorization. The subcommittee and the full committee decided to reduce the 3year authorization to 1 year. I certainly want to report that the administration feels that a 3year authorization is appropriate and necessary in order to provide for the planning of the refugee assistance program. The remarks of my colleague from New York indicate that he may introduce an amendment which would call for a 2year program as a compromise. At any rate.