Speech #990031443

For the gentlemans information. the language that I have worked out with the voluntary agencies with respect to that point eliminates the words "legally and financially responsible." I think those words are misinterpreted as they appeared in the original Lungren amendment in the last Congress in the Refugee Act. It was never my intention to take the Federal Government off the hook. It was. rather. to say that since the Federal Government is going to pay one way or the other. either through voluntary agencies or the reimbursement that now exists during the 3year time period for a number of programs and beyond that for other programs. would It not be better to channel those funds to the resettlement program through the voluntary agencies. as opposed to funneling them through the welfare. because one of the things we have found is if you take a refugee landing on our shores and say to him or to her. "In order to be eligible for the assistance that we want through the refugee program. you have to go down to your local welfare department." and then the local welfare worker. acting in all sincerty. says. "By the way. you have th.. se other rights. these other programs that you can get." when that person goes back to the voluntary agency and the voluntary agency says. "We have set up a program to start you on a work schedule. we will help you get a Job over here and that will begin you on the path toward meaningful employment." and they get a discordant signal from the local welfare office. we defeat our purpose. It was never my intention whatsoever to say that the obligation would fall on local government. It was to say since we are paying one way or the other. what is No. 1. more efficient for the Government. and No. 2. probably more importantly. what Is the more effective way of assisting these now welfare recipients. these refugees. toward getting into the mainstream of America. which I do not be)..eve and I know the chairman does not believe is welfare dependency. So I agree with the comments of the chafman. and I Just want to reiterate that It was never my intention to take the Federal Government off of the hook In this regard.