Speech #970191042

Chairman. I rise in support of this bill as reported by the full committee. This 1year reauthorization makes substantial improvements in the intent and respective responsibilities of the Federal Government and private agencies involved in the refugee program. This bill addresses the critical issue of resettlement in areas already heavily impacted by refugees. One only has to look at Dade County. Fla.. or Orange County. Calif.. to realize that the refugee program does not have a responsive placement program. Due to the lack of some kind of directed resettlement policy. placements have continued in areas which are already saturated. These resettlements do have direct impacts on all services in a given areawhich are accompanied by a price tag. The committee bill requires the Office of Refugee Resettlement to develop and implement a refugee placement policy in consultation with the State and local governments and with the voluntary agencies. The committee further directs ORR to include in the policy. to the extent possible. that resettlements of refugees shall not be made in an area highly impacted by the presence of refugees or comparable populations which specifically includes the group known as Cuban/ Haitian entrants. Regulation prescribed by the Director of ORR will determine a highly impacted area for this purpose. The exception recognized by this provision is the case of immediate family reunification. but it will redirect other refugees to new locations. The refugee program must be evaluated in terms of the responsibilities attached to refugee resettlementsspecifically the cost incurred. The State of Florida has expended millions of dollars in social services. criminal justice and educational costs. The State has had to absorb these unreimbursable costs because of a Federal policy decision. The bottom line is that there is and will continue to be a net increase in the demands for these services with large resettlements. The committee has recognized this and agrees that the impact of Federal refugee policy decisions on local communities should be studied to determine the best method for measuring this net increase in local and State delivered services. The study is intended to provide Congress with a standard to guide future refugee impact legislation. Requiring that this policy be developed is fundamental to a workable program of resettlement and assimilation. A more reasoned and planned approach will alleviate excessive fiscal impacts on the local area and allow advance notice for services delivery. such as schools. training programs. and housing. The south Florida school districts alone are anticipating 18.000 refugee students this fall. Many of these students have special educational needs for which the schools must adjust. Overburdening any service system. such as has occurred in south Florida. can have a negative effect on the goal of selfsufficiency for the refugees. This is a carefully developed amendment to the Refugee Act and I strongly urge that all Members support the passage of H.R. 5879.0