Mr. Speaker. I declined to sign the conference agreement. because of my disappointment that we were unable to hold the House position with respect to temporary suspension of deportation of refugees from wartorn El Salvador and Nicaragua. During committee consideration of the bill. the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules. the gentleman from Florida and I had proposed language which would provide for a detailed GAO investigation of conditions in El Salvador and Nicaragua. particularly with respect to the fate of returnees from the United States. Our amendment provided a temporary stay of deportation for refugees from those countries. pending congressional review of that study. Our amendment was sustained on the House floor. on a recorded vote. during consideration of the bill. Mr. Speaker. the amendment offered the same temporary relief we have provided for refugees from other countries where conditions are unsettled. That authority has been used 15 times since 1960. and extended voluntary departure currently applies to individuals from Ethiopia. Uganda.
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deportation refugees