Speech #990089732

Mr. Speaker. yesterday. on the last day of the Federal fiscal year. the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a temporary restraining order directing the Reagan administration to release $11.5 million in refugee assistance illegally withheld from counties with significant refugee populations. The district courts action was necessary to prevent the funds appropriated for the Refugee Entrant and Targeted Assistance Program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services from reverting to the Treasury at midnight last night. The case before the court was filed by Congressman DON EDWARDS. other distinguished members of this body. and individual refugees who have been injured by the administrations persistent failure to release these funds despite clear congressional intent that the funds be released. I strongly support and commend Mr. EDWARDS and the other plaintiffs in this effort. and I am grateful that Mr. EDWARDS joined in this effort on behalf of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation. Refugeerelated social services costs severely impact Santa Clara County. which I represent along with my colleague. Mr. EDWARDS. Of the $11.5 million in illegally im. pounded funds. Santa Clara County would receive $474.157. These funds would go to support one of the most successful refugee job training programs in the country. The refugee targeted assistance program provides funds needed to assimilate recent refugees into the labor force and thereby enable these individuals to become independent and more productive members of society. The courts decision in Edwards v. Heckler comes on the heels of a Comptroller Generals ruling that the Office of Management and Budget improperly and illegally impounded $11.5 million of $89 million appropriated by Congress for fiscal year 1985 for the Refugee Entrant and Targeted Assistance Program. For the past 2 years OMB has resisted expending targeted assistance in accordance with congressional direction. In light of the U.S.