Mr. Speaker. I am introducing legislation today that authorizes and appropriates $150 million in emergency humanitarian funds for Kurdish and Shilite refugees escaping from Iraq. As all of you surely know. more than a million Kurds and Shiites are fleeing the genocidal persecution of the Iraqi Army. Women. children. and the elderly continue to be the target of Saddam Husseins ruthless campaign against these populations. Those fortunate enough to escape violent death. now face starvation. freezing temperatures. and disease. Because of the primitive environment. it is impossible to know how many refugees are currently seeking protection in the mountain passes of northern and eastern Iraq. but the need for humanitarian aid is critical. Two days ago. Secretary of State Baker received a firsthand look of the horrific living conditions the refugees must endure. Clearly. the living conditions and the pleas of its inhabitants were extremely disheartening to the Secretary as they are to all of us here in this chamber. I believe former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was correct when she said: It should not be beyond the wit of man to get planes there with tents. food. and warm blankets. Its not a question of legal niceties. We should do it now. It is important to note that Britain has already pledged $40 million to help the refugees. This legislation allows the President to demonstrate the sympathy of the American people. as well as our flexibility to act quickly before the refugee conditions decay further. It provides a total of $150 millionimmediatelyto the President to use as the U.S. contribution to the international relief effort. We cannot hesitate another day. the lives of thousands depend on this Government to take action. and I urge your support for this measure.
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refugee refugees