Mr. President. I am pleased to join today with my distinguished colleague from Washington . in cosponsoring the amendment to release funds for refugee targeted assistance. Since fiscal year 1984. the Office of Refugee Resettlement has not made available to the States the full amount Congress appropriated for targeted assistance. This has occurred in spite of the excellent efforts by the Senator from Connecticut . the distinguished chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor. HHS. and Other Related Agencies. In fiscal year 1984. the Office of Refugee Resettlement unlawfully reprogrammed away $16.6 million from targeted assistance. Again in fiscal year 1985. despite a clear statement of congressional intent in both the House and Senate reports on fiscal year 1984 appropriations. the Office of Refugee Resettlement was again unwilling to make available to States the full amount Congress intended. Mr. President. this amendment calls for the immediate release of the full amount appropriated by Congress for refugee assistance for fiscal year 1985 which is $89.026.000. This amendment does exactly what the Federal district court and two Comptroller General decisions have ordered. There are 33 targeted assistance areas around the Nation and if no clarification is made. States will face undue financial hardship. For example. in my own State of Washington. there would be a reduction of about 51 percent or $1 million in this fiscal year in the amount of assistance provided under this program. Though the amount of money is relatively small. targeted assistance is a vital and effective resource aiding States and localities in their efforts to assist refugees in getting off public assistance and becoming productive members of our society. I urge my colleagues to support the adoption of this amendment.
Keywords matched
Refugee refugee refugees