Speech #970191235

Chairman. the gentleman from Wisconsin brought up the topic of the duration of assistance programs. There is a need to move people off of welfare rolls and on to the road of selfsufficiency. There is substantial evidence that allowing 36 long months of cash assistance might actually be blunting a refugees initiative to gain selfsufficiency. learn job skills. and even learn English. I would make one clarification. It is commonly thought that at the end of 18 months States and localities find the big iron gates slam down and the Federal Government picks up nothing more. But as the gentleman knows. the Federal Government also reimburses at 100 percent during a refugees second 18 months in the United States. In addition. the Federal Government pays fully for refugee social services. Such services are available to all refugees regardless of how long they have been in the United States. JSE 14575