Speech #1020077484

In the Senate version. although full disbursement of funds is delayed until fiscal year 1993. the appropriation for ca.h and medical assistance is maintained at $234 million. This is in contrast to the House Appropriations Committee language which allots only $117 million for fiscal year 1992. after which the cash and medical assistance program would be phased out. As you know. the Refugee Act of 1980 has a dual purpose: First. to provide a procedure for the annual admission of refugees to the United States and second. to authorize Federal assistance to resettle refugees. The Refugee Resettlement Program is administered by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR] in the Department of Health and Human Services [HHS]. One of the major domestic resettlement assistance programs authorized under the Refugee Act is cash and medical assistance. The Hoube LaborHHS Appropriations Committee phases out this critical program after fiscal year Phasing out the cash and medical assistance program is inconsistent with the numbers of refugees still entering the United States. The fiscal year 1991 ceiling on total refugee admissions into the United States was 131.000. The fiscal year 1991 appropriation for cash and medical assistance was $234 million. The State Department has estimated the fiscal year 1992 refugee admissions ceiling at 144.000. The Presidents fiscal year 1992 request for cash and medical assistance at $240.000.000 reasonably reflects the numbers of refugees for the upcoming fiscal year. The Senate maintains the fiscal year 1992 level at $234 million. but makes half this amount available on a delayed obligation basis to reimburse the States. The House. however. has only appropriated $117.600.000 for cash and medical assistance to be available through March 31. 1992. after which the program would be phased out. If the Congress adopts the House language. the Federal Government would be sending the message to the States that it is reneging on the commitment made under the Refugee Act. While the number of refugees is increasing by 30 percent. the House language decreases cash and medical assistance to resettle these refugees by 50 percent for this fiscal year before phasing out the program in March of 1992. Does this mean the United States will not be accepting any more refugees after fiscal year 1992? No. Its just another example of how the Federal Government has fallen short on its responsibility to assist the States with the consequences of Federal immigration policy. Florida and other States affected by large refugee populations have already spent millions of dollars without Federal reimbursement. More importantly. the legislative history of the Refugee Act clearly indicates that refugee resettlement costs are the responsibility of the Federal Government. In the report to accompany the Refugee Act of 1980. the Senate Judiciary Committee made two important points: First. refugee resettlement is a Federal responsibility. and second. the Federal Government committed itself to reimbursing the States 100 percent for the first 2 years of refugee resettlement. At that time. the committee explained: Because refugees admitted to the United States are a result of a national policy decision and by federal action. the federal government clearly has a responsibility to aoist States and local communities in resetuing the refugeesassisting them until they are selfsupporting and contributing members of their adopted communities. * * * The bill limits the 100 percent federal support of medical. cash and employment programs to the first two years after the refugees entry into the United States. Congress originally authorized reimbursement to the States for 100 percent of the costs of providing refugees with cash and medical assistance during their first 36 months in the United States. In 1986. the period of Federal reimbursement was reduced from 36 to 31 months. further reduced to 24 months in 1988. In 1990. States were told that reimbursement would last for only the first 12 months of refugee resettlement. In addition. this year alone. Florida was not reimbursed for almost $1 million in AFDC and medicaid costs. as a result of a Federal decision to limit to 4 months reimbursement to the States for categorical refugee programs. Floridas grant allocation for cash and medical assistance in fiscal year 1990 was $6.8 million. in fiscal year 1991. approximately $8 million. Phasing out this cash and medical assistance would "learly mean that Florida and other States will not continue to receive its fair share of Federal assistance. The House action to phase out cash and medical assistance is wrong. The Congressional Research Service [CRS] has commented that "cash and medical assistance is the heart of the refugee resettlement program." Without cash and medical assistance. the States would be forced to assume an unfairly excessive financial burden. I would therefore like to pose the question to the Senator from Iowa: What is the committees intention with regard to this vital cash and medical assistance program?