Mr. Chairman. this amendment has three purposes: Clarifies an ambiguity in the Refugee Education Assistance Act to ensure its permanent authorization. Provides flexibility for a local school district to use Immigration Naturalization Service data in determining the number of eligible children under this act. Provides for emphasis on English language proficency and knowledge of the history. principles. and form of Government of the United States in any adult education program under both this act and the Refugee Education Assistance Act. The Education and Labor Committee unanimously adopted this amendment which provides for necessary technical changes in the Refugee Education Assistance Act to ensure that conformity of intent applies to both REAA and H.R. 1510. First. since REAA created a permanent authorization for refugee education assistance. this amendment corrects an ambiguity in that act to ensure that the authorization of appropriations in section 102 of that act conforms with sections 201. 301. and 401 of REAA. The second part of my amendment provides school districts with the flexibility to use Immigration and Naturalization Service data to determine the numbers of eligible children when local school districts have not compiled their own independent count. In the case of large urban school districts like New York City. independent data collection activity could be prohibitively expensive. In addition the amendment provides that funds for adult education programs under this act. to the maximum extent feasible. shall be used for programs of instruction for eligible recipients in order that they may gain an understanding of the English language. including an ability to read. write. and speak words in ordinary usage in the English language. and a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of history. and of the principles and form of government. of the United States.
Keywords matched
Naturalization Immigration Refugee refugee