Speech #970248304

Mr. President. the Refugee Act of 1980 which originated in the Committee on the Judiciary was initally authorized for 3 years. Those 3 years expire on this day. September 30. 1982. The reauthorization bill before the Senate is H.R. 5879. which reauthorizes domestic resettlement funding for 1 year and further amends the Refugee Act to provide for 100 percent reimbursement of cash and medical assistance provided to refugees under any assistance or reimbursement programs authorized by the Office of Refugee Resettlement: it also provides that a refugee placement policy be developed. that State. local. and private sector representatives meet on a regular basis to plan and coordinate refugee placement. that records on refugee dependency rates be maintained. that voluntary agencies and local welfare offices exchange information on job offers and welfare applications of refugees. it provides that cash assistance to refugees shall terminate on refusal of an appropriate job offer or refusal of an appropriate social program. as well as be terminated for those refugees who become fulltime students. that voluntary agencies shall expend reception and processing funds within 2 years of receipt. that the Office of Refugee Resettlement report to the Congress on various aspects of refugee programs. and finally that the GAO shall conduct annual audits of funds provided by the State Department to voluntary agencies under reception and placement agreements. At a hearing held by the Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy earlier this month. these amendments appeared generally acceptable to most of the witnesses. The House held extended hearings on the amendments while we were heavily involved with the markup and debate of the Immigration Reform and Control Act in the Senate. To avoid interruption of our domestic resettlement program. I recommend that we adopt the House amendments. During the first session of the 98th Congress. the subcommittee will more thoroughly address the refugee resettlement issues in additional hearings and consultations with a view toward reauthorizing the Refugee Act for an extended number of years in 1983. I think it is important that we get back to a multiyear reauthoriza. tion. if that is possible. Under the circumstances. it seems more practical. and certainly more realistic. to deal with it at this point on the basis of a 1. year reauthorization because of the crush of business here in the Senate.