Speech #980281517

Mr. President. I ask that the following materials be printed in the RECORD as the substance of the annual consultations between the representatives of the President and members of the Judiciary Committees of the House and the Senate on refugee admissions for fiscal year 1985. as mandated by section 207(d) of the Refugee Act of 1980. Mr. President. in order to conserve the printing costs of the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. I am submitting only relevant correspondence and selected excerpts from the much more detailed and more lengthy report of the U.S. Coordinator for Refugee Affairs. entitled "Proposed Refugee Admissions and Allocations for the Fiscal Year 1985." That report should be considered to be incorporated by reference in full in these remarks. Should any of my colleagues wish to read this report. or should they have any questions about it. I would refer them either to the staff of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy. which I chair. or the office of the U.S. Coordinator for Refugee Affairs. Department of State. Washington. DC 20520. The materials referred to follows: Congress has. in the Refugee Act of 1980. stated that the U.S. resettlement program is intended for refugees of special hunanitarian concern to the United States. in accordance with a determination made by the President after appropriate consultation. Mr. Chairman. after most careful study and reflection. the President proposes a regional refugee admissions ceiling of 70.000 for fiscal year 1985. a small reduction from the fiscal 84 level. Within this overall ceiling of 70.000. the President is proposing a new. separate ceiling for admissions under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Orderly Departure Program from Vietnam and some adjustments in geographic ceilings. I am here representing the President to consult with the Congress about our proposed 1985 admissions program. We are here today not only to present this proposal for your consideration. but also to answer your questions and receive your views. We hope the 1985 admissions program will receive the same broad bipartisan support that it has enjoyed in past years. The proposed admissions ceilings for fiscal year 1985 are: 50.000 for East Asia. including 10.000 for a separate Orderly Departure Program in Vietnam. 9.000 for Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. 5.000 for the Near East and South Asia. 3.000 for Africa. 3.000 for Latin America and the Caribbean. for a total of 70.000 worldwide. In addition. the President is announcing two new initiatives aimed at resolving pressing refugee problems in Southeast Asia. First. the United States will accept all AsianAmerican children and their qualifying family members presently in Vietnam. hopefully over the next three years. Because of their undisputed ties to our country. these children and family members are of particular humanitarian concern to the United States.