Speech #990280456

Mr. Speaker. I rise to support in the strongest possible terms House Resolution 594. commending the Royal Thai Government for their humanitarian role in the plight of refugees from the Indochinese Nations qf Vietnam. Laos. and Cambodia. Ever since those Nations fell under Communist oppression in 1975. the Royal Thai Government and the Thai people have exhibited a willingness to accept refugees from neighboring countries that serves as a model of humanitarianism for the entire world. In the face of a strained economy. Thailand has sacrificed much to accept hundreds of thousands of refugees. even during periods when third country resettlement was waningthreatening a potential large refugee population with no recourse other than remaining under care of the Thais. I have had the pleasure of vissting Thailand and discussing the refugee situation with Thai officials on two separate occasions. and I came home both times impressed by their compassion. Since 1975 over half a million refugees have benefited from Thai good will and have been resettled in third countries. Today nearly 150.000 refugees remain in Thailand. waiting for a future. Another 250.000 Cambodians are languishing on the Thai/Cambodian border. with no place to go. Now. with "compassion fatigue" weighing on resettlement countries and on countries of first asylum. it is imperative that we assist the Thais in maintaining their traditional humanitarian approach to the refugee problem. And problems do now exist. with the first asylum status of some threatened. We need to show to Thais. through trade policies. offtake of refugees through resettlement and immigrant visa processing. encouragement of resettlement by other countries. and assistance for protection programs. that we will not abandon them in continuing to deal with the problem. The Thais will then be encouraged to continue their longstanding humanitarian policies. As the leader of the free world and the worlds strongest economic power we can and should do no less. As ranking member of the Judiciary Committee and member of the Subcommittee on Refugees. Immigration and International Law with oversight responsibility over our refugee policy I am committed to continuance of a humanitarian response to the plight of Indochinese refugees.