Speech #1010072955

Mr. President. I want to turn now from this shortterm issue to a much more difficult longterm problem: How are we ever going to pay for all these refugees? I do not think we should change our longheld belief that a wellfounded fear of persecution entitles a person to refugee status. I do believe. however. that the time has come to rethink our system for transporting these people to the United States. and for settling them once they are here. Mr. President. the numbers have grown too large. And American resources have been stretched too thin for us to go on paying approximately $7.000 per refugee for resettlement in the United States. The time has come for those seeking the freedom and privilege of living in America to bear some of the financial burden associated with their entry into this country. I plan to offer legislation. which will introduce an element of selfhelp to U.S. refugee admissions. I was happy to learn that my distinguished friend from the 11th District of New York. CHUCK SCHuMER. will Join me in this important effort with similar legislation in the House of Representatives. Mr. President. this legislation will not send refugees into poverty. It will not favor rich refugees over poor refugees. It will not create a new Federal bureaucracy. But. most important. it will help us to remain a true refuge for persecuted people around the world. In brief. my plan is to set up a refugee revolving loan fund. This fund would augment annual appropriations for refugee admissions. and would in turn be replenished by wealthier refugees payment of some amount up front. Refugees of more modest means will have the opportunity to schedule installment payments after getting on their feet once in the United States. Refugees or their naturalized American sponsors will sign a promissory note making them legally responsible for these payments. after undergoing a means test to determine the most equitable payment plan. Refugees will be able to request postponement of this obligation for reasons of financial hardship. However. everyone involved with refugee admissionsthe Government. the private sector. the refugees and their familiesmust be under no illusions as to the seriousness of this financial obligation. We say to our young people who go to college. we want you to repay the money. and I do not believe it unreasonable to those refugees who come to our country and find gainful employment or who have the funds before they come in. to expect them to bear the burden themselves of the cost of there resettlement in this country. Mr. President. this is not a step taken lightly. It is a measure I wish I did not have to introduce. But we must face reality. We do not have the money to cover refugee program requirements anymore. even with the tremendous efforts of the private sector. I am committed to working with the administration and other interested parties to implement creative. responsible solutions for our refugee problems. I have been in touch with the State Department. They have indicated their willingness to explore the subJect and. hopefully. to come on board with respect to working it out in a practical way. I believe that the refugee revolving loan fund is one of the creative solutions we will need in the future. I will say more about this plan very soon. I welcome the willingness of a number of my colleagues in the Senate and in the House who already indicated that they believe the plan is workable. they want to be on board. and they want to support it.