Chairman. I too. rise in support of H.R. 5879. As a Representative from the State most severely impacted by refugee populations this measure is of particular importance to me. There are now about 600.000 Indochinese refugees in the United States. and over onethird of them reside in California. Los Angeles County alone has more refugees than the State with the second highest refugee population. Texas. In addition. seven counties in California have more refugees than 40 States combined. To say that this influx. with its attendant high dependency rates. has placed strains upon the public health. education. and welfare systems of California would be an understatement. Because we have been pushed to the limits of our capabilities. we need a policy that takes into consideration more carefully the domestic impacts of Federal decisions to admit refugees. I believe that H.R. 5879 is a constructive step in establishing such a policy. The bill requires periodic consultations between voluntary agencies and State and local governments prior to the arrival of refugees. It directs the Office of Refugee Resettlement to develop placement strategies that avoid new resettlements in already impacted areas. And it requires an extensive study on the advisability and feasibility of establishing an impact aid program. During full committee markup I offered an amendment to abolish the discretionary authority of the Federal Government to provide for anything less than full Federal reimbursement to the States for their costs in providing cash and medical assistance to refugees who have been here 3 years or less. With the adoption of my amendment. the committee evidenced its conviction that the Federal Government should be fully responsible for refugeerelated expenditures during the first 3 years. The committee thus has fashioned a reasonable and responsible piece of legislation to which I can give my wholehearted support. It insures that the Federal commitment to our refugee program does not terminate with the refugees arrival here. States and localities urgently need Federal financial help if they are to join effectively in the effort to resettle them and to place them quickly on the road to selfsufficiency. I urge my colleagues support of this meritorious legislation.*
Keywords matched
refugeerelated Refugee refugee refugees