Speech #990050356

Chairman. I rise in opposition to the pending amendment. Policy relating to the placement of refugees are for the most part conceived here in Washington. not in State capitals where the social needs of refugees must be met well into the future. I believe that as a humanitarian Nation. we are obligated to accept as many refugees from persecution elsewhere in the world as we can reasonably handle. I also believe that when these refugees gravitate toward certain areas of the country. whether because there are support systems in place there or simply because the climate is better. we at the Federal level are obligated to help States who experience special problems as a result of their June M. 1.985 contribution to the national refugee effort. It is simply not enough to dismiss targeted assistance as a Federal subsidy for heavily impacted areas. Those of us who represent States with large refugee populations certainly recognize the tremendous benefits. both financial and social. which our jurisdictions derive from the presence of refugee populations. But we also recognize that without targeted assistance. the willingness of State and local governments to reach out to refugees from other countries and other cultures might deteriorate. and our national policy surrounding the future acceptance of refugees might be adversely affected. We simply cannot shirk our international responsibility to share in the placement of human beings who. because of persecution. have been transformed from contributing citizens into refugees unable to return to their homeland. My State of New York would get $1 million in targeted assitance. and this money would underwrite direct job placement programs. Job training. and language and cultural orientation programs. These. I believe. are necessary steps in the integration of refugees into American society. Without targeted assistance. as I have said. I fear the refugee would be the inevitable loser. and given the experiences which led him to become a refugee in the first place. such a result would be both unfortunate and undeserved. New York City is known in part for the presence of the Statue of Liberty and for the promise it represents to newly arrived immigrants. This is Americas promise. Even though they are granted admission to the United States outside our normal immigration flow. refugees share many of the same characteristics as other immigrants. and they often come here without the skills. education. sponsorships. and selfhelp networks which serve as vital aids for other groups. We at the Federal level should therefore do our utmost to assist what is often a very difficult and culturally confusing transition. That help must include a targeted assistance program. one which I believe is a necessary ingredient in the formula of assimilation. A vote for the Sensenbrenner amendment is a vote to leave a number of States standing alone in dealing with large refugee populations. Responsibility for the acceptance and placement of refugees. we must never forget. is a Federal one shared by the States. and targeted assistance is part and parcel thereof. I urge a "no" vote.