Many have brought needed skills. and some have started their own businesses. But this does not happen overnight. Refugee resettlement programs are the necessary transitional step. Because of the many cuts in Federal reimbursement to the States for refugee resettlement costs. Oregon and the other top dozen States are literally out of pocket millions of dollars. The Federal Government makes decisions about refugee admissions. and a handful of States end up picking up the tab. These States are doing the best they can. but in no way can they keep the Federal Governments promise of 36 months of resettlement assistance to those who need it. This is not fair to the refugees. who may come to this land of promise only to find themselves among the poor and destitute. And it is certainly not fair to the States which. because of circumstance. are assuming a huge fiscal burden cast upon them by the Federal Government. Mr. President. I deeply regret the fact that the shortfall in refugee funding for 1990 is not addressed in this supplemental appropriations bill. It is my hope and that of my distinguished colleagues from the affected States that this issue will be a major focus in the budget process for 1991.
Keywords matched
Refugee refugee refugees