Mr. Speaker. for the record. I wish to express my strict opposition to the Sensenbrenner amendment offered today to H.R. 1452. the Refugee Assistance Extension. As you know. this measure would eliminate the authorization of funding for targeted assistance to areas with large refugee populations. Targeted assistance is extremely important to my own State of Florida. To give you an idea of the magnitude of the deficits run as a result of the Mariel boatlift. Florida was forced to absorb $150 million in unreimbursed costs associated with refugee care. The funding has been provided by the citizens of Florida who have shouldered much of the burden of what was a national crisis. The influx of hundreds of thousands of illegal Cubans is not a Florida problem alone.
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