Speech #1020019593

Mr. President. I rise today to voice my concern with a provision the committee included in this fiscal year 1991 supplemental appropriations bill regarding our Nations refugee resettlement programs. Specifically. the provision takes $1.7 million from the refugee cash and medical assistance fund and directs it to an expanded private sector initiative sponsored by the CubanAmerican National Federation. I understand the Intent behind the provision. and the commitment of members of the Appropriations Committee to promote selfsufficiency among our refugee population. This funding may be warranted. Mr. President. so I do not come to the floor today to dispute the work and dedication of the CubanAmerican National Federation. What I dispute is the process and the precedent it sets for future refugee resettlement funding allocations. This provision sets a dangerous precedent because It puts the Congress in the position of earmarking cash and medical assistance funds for one private sector initiative that it is serving one specific refugee group. Cash and medical assistance funding is intended to reimburse State and local government costs. I am concerned with the precedent this provision sets. and am worried that it could open the flood gates to additional earmarking of this refugee cash and medical assistance account. especially when other refugee groups and certainly the States see how they have been excluded. States and local governments are the workhorse of our Nations refugee resettlement program. Unfortunately. since 1985 States and local governments have seen Federal funding assistance reduced to but a fraction of what the Refugee Act of 1980 intended. In fiscal year 1990. for instance. a majority of the States were forced to absorb shortfalls of over $34 million in the cash and medical assistance program. This fiscal year. it is anticipated that the Office of Refugee Resettlement [ORR] may have to reduce the reimbursement period for cash and medical assistance programs below 12 months. These funding reductions are already forcing States to make unilateral reductions In their fiscal year 1991 refugee unaccompanied minor programs. Needless to say. the pie is already too small. this diversion of funds. albeit small. harms my States resettlement efforts. and it sends the message that the Federal Government has little interest in supporting their refugee resettlement needs. I am also concerned because this provision contradicts the intent of the private sector initiative program. Previously. the admission of refugees under this program was contingent upon the availability of private sector funding sufficient to cover the resettlement costs. Despite this fact. the provision before us provides a Federal funding commitment. again. a precedent will be established that could open the way for future requests from numerous refugee groups for Federal funding commitments. By giving medical assistance funds to this private sector initiative. we are limiting the funds available to the states and other refugees for medical assistance programs. Mr. President. the Congress established the FishWilson provisions of the Refugee Act to create new methods of resettling refugees. and it did so in such a manner that it ensured coordination between ORR. the sponsoring organization. and the States. The provision in this bill endruns that process. and. based on the reaction from California. it could end up pitting refugee service providers against each other. Private sector initiatives may be worthy of our support and funding assistance. Mr.