Speech #980150146

Mr. President. one of the principal voluntary agencies involved in the resettlement of refugees in this country. Church World Service of the National Council of Churches. recently conducted a major survey on the effectiveness of their resettlement program. Their findings. based upon a scientific sampling of refugees resettled over a 3year period. 1980 to 1983a period when relatively large numbers of refugees were being admitted and the resettlement system was under considerable pressureare very encouraging. They serve to confirm what many of us involved in the refugee program have known all alongthat the refugees are making it on their own. With Federal and voluntary agency help. refugees coming to our shores have become productive and contributing members of countless communities across our land. As Dale deHaan. the director of the immigration and refugee program of Church World Service writes: The results were dramatically better news than one might have expected from the general impression one hears about refugees nowadays in the halls of Congress. on the pages of our newspapers and in other professional circles. The survey found thatOver time most refugees are finding jobs and are working. Refugee use of public assistance is significantly lower than is commonly believed. and Over time most refugees are achieving selfsufficiency. The survey also documents the substantial sums the private sector is making in support of our Nations refugee program. Church World Service sponsors and congregations have given an estimated $133 million in cash. goods and services over the past 32 years alone. And the same can confidently be said about most of the other voluntary agencies involved in the refugee program. This finding underscores the importance of the partnership that exists between the Federal Government and the private sectora partnership that was clearly envisaged when Congress enacted the Refugee Act of 1980. It reflects the experience of many years. and proves that working together we can vastly increase our ability to resettle refugees. Mr. President.