They came to the United States because Federal officials offered them support and protection in exchange for their support of our armed forces in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. Many of them came from a civilization that can be described as the Stone Age. Contrary to the assumptions of those seeking to reduce funding for refugee assistance. many of the Hmongs have not yet become selfsupporting. In Fresno County. for example. the percentage of refugees on assistance exceeds 85 percent. This situation exists despite efforts by local officials to bring refugees into the mainstream. and despite the efforts of the refugees themselves to span centuries of cultural experience in a very short time to become working. selfsupporting members of our increasingly technological society. Mr. Chairman. if there are problems with the way that these moneys are being used. then I suggest that simply cutting off all funding amounts to throwing out the baby with the bathwater. If there are problems they should be addressed. I think this bill contains language that has been developed to deal with these problems. If the Sensenbrenner amendment shall pass. the refugees and their problems will not vanish. Local and State government will be forced to assume responsibility for a problem that is. in my judgment. uniquely Federal. Mr.
Identified stereotypes
Generalization that many Hmong refugees have not become self-supporting and are on assistance.