Speech #980137698

Since we have been giving out accolades. I should mention that these accolades are well deserved by the chairman of the subcommittee. the gentleman from Kentucky . and the ranking member. the gentleman from California . I would like to also point out the distinguished and diligent efforts of the ranking member of the full committee. the gentleman from New York in behalf of refugees. I think had it not been for their dedicated efforts in trying to work out a bipartisan compromise we would not have come to the floor with noncontroversial legislation on such a complicated and emotional subject. Mr. Speaker. the bill presently before us. H.R. 3729. which received the bipartisan support of the Judiciary Committee. has two main purposes. First. and foremost. it continues through fiscal years 1984 and 1985 the authority to fund the domestic resettlement of refugees. The funds authorized by this bill will be spent on various refugee resettlement activities. The vast majority of the funds will be expended on reimbursing State and local governments for the costs they will incur in providing cash and medical assistance to needy refugees for their first 3 years in this country. It will fund social service products such as English language and job training. It will provide up to $50 million in targeted assistance. or. if you will. impact aid. to localities heavily impacted by refugee populations. And it will provide the funds necessary to provide health screening and initial medical treatment to the refugee population to insure both that refugee medical problems are diagnosed and treated early and that the public health is not compromised by refugee admissions. The second fundamental purpose of this legislation is to fine tune the Refugee Act of 1980. That legislation has proven to be a fair and workable mechanism for the selection. admission. and resettlement of refugees. However. as in the case of virtually any piece of legislation. changing circumstances and realworld experiences have pointed to the need for some changes. Most of the changes contemplated by the bill are directed toward reducing the refugee welfare dependency rates. For example. the bill would require refugees to go to properly authorized job interviews. Other changes are designed to streamline the administration of the program. My State ranks high among the most heavily impacted refugee States with a total of 20.000 refugees and recent arrivals numbering about 1.000 refugees. I believe the sums included in this bill are minimal when compared with the assets these refugees bring to this country and the contribution they are making to American society. Mr. Speaker. let me point out that this legislation deals only with the domestic aspects of our refugee program. It does not redefine the term "refugee" or alter the manner in which refugees are selected. The committee did study those issues. but decided that no changes in those areas could be justified at this time. Finally.