The conference continues to afford AID wide flexibility in using these funds under the Development Fund for Africa. The goal of the conferees is to give AID the latitude to respond to the special problems of subSaharan Africa. In title II. the conferees provide $370 million for the migration and refugee assistance account in the Department of State. the Presidents requested level. However. recognizing that this level is grossly inadequate to meet the urgent needs of refugees around the world. the conferees also agreed to increase the emergency refugee and migration &.sistance account from the requested $10 to $50 million. This should enable the administration to meet the most pressing refugee needs until a refugee supplemental can be submitted to Congress. The conferees believe the migration and refugee assistance account is underfunded by at least $100 million. and urge the administration to come forward with a supplemental to meet this shortfall as soon as possible. In another step to help meet refugee needs. the conference agreed to provide an additional $15 million to the Migration and Refugee Program of the Department of State to assist the Refugee Entrant Program of the Department of Health and Human Services. The administration refused to seek adequate funding for that program. leaving a severe funding shortage for absorbing new refugees into American society. This left an additional burden on the States which the conferees agreed was inequitable. The conferees are especially pleased to be able to provide $168 million for the Peace Corps. a $5 million increase over the $163 million requested by the administration. $2 million of this increase is to assist in the implementation of Peace Corps programs in Poland and Hungary.
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Refugee refugee refugees