Speech #1010094020

Mr. Chairman. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 45. a bill to grant temporary refuge to Chinese and Central American refugees. This measure would grant safe haven to certain Chinese and Central American nationals in the United States. This bill is significant because it would also establish a comprehensive framework for temporary protected status for citizens of countries experiencing internal emergencies. I commend the gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. MoRnsoNJ and the gentleman from Massachusetts for their work on this comprehensive humanitarian measure. As the author of H.R. 2712. the Chinese students bill. I would like to say that this bill that is before us today is absolutely necessary if Congress is going to take actions to match our rhetoric in protecting the Chinese student nationals who are in this country. and the rhetoric in support of democracy. This measure would offer some sense of certainty to refugees whose future is uncertain. I believe we have a moral obligation to do everything within our power to insure that foreign nationals in the United States are protected from the internal strife In their countries. With this bill we have the opportunity. within the framework established for the temporary protected status. the bill focusing specifically on Chinese. Salvadorans. and Nicaraguans. Thousands of Nicaraguans and Salvadorans have been driven from their homes by civil war and politically motivated violence. Salvadoran refugees and international observers report profound increases in human rights violations in El Salvador. Civilian deaths attributable to the civil war there now number approximately 70.000. The State Department reports that human rights in Nicaragua are also constantly in peril.