Speech #970225519

I am very appreciative of the concern evidenced by the very able Republican Senator from Florida. Her concern has been a continuing one. She has testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy and. in addition has made personal representations to me on a number of occasions bringing clearly home to me and my colleagues in the Congress the terrible difficulty caused by the inability of the Federal Government to respond to the CubanHaitian influx in Florida from April to October 1980. She has sincerely and appropriately stated that there is a need both for new legislation and for advanced planning which will prevent such an influx from again incurring and causing such a burdensome impact on the citizens of Florida. Refugees are a Federal responsibility and it is the Federal Governments duty to protect citizens of the various States. particularly citizens of border States. from sudden inflows of refugees and asylees that impact on the social services of a State and on the quality of life in the United States. I do want to now assure the Senator from Florida that immediately after the disposal of S. 2222 I shall request the administration to submit to the subcommittee on Immigration its form of emergency legislation which will address all of the issues that she has raised so cogently before this body. The legislation will address Presidential powers to interdict ships coming inappropriately to our shores. prevention of U.S. citizens and permanent residents from assisting those coming to the United States without authorization. In addition all forms of financial assistance to areas impacted by the refugee emergencies will be covered during our hearings on the Refugee Act of 1980 reauthorization. I can assure the Senator from Florida that her amendment will be considered during our hearings on the Refugee Act of 1980 and that act will be reported out during September 1982. Let me say again that I am very much personally aware of the problems that exist in Florida and appreciate the representations by the Senator from Florida and want to assist in her effort to assure that the Federal Government will be able to respond swiftly and fully to these situations in the future.