Speech #1020121178

I argued right here on the floor that Congress was not putting one red cent into that program. They had reneged on their bargain. To my State of California. what does that mean: $400 million from the State of California. already pushed to the wall. like we all are. because of the recession. already pushed to the wall because of everincreasing numbers of illegal immigrants coming to the State. These refugees have every right to come to and reside in the State of California. but not being provided the Federal financial support that we had been promisedin the fiscal condition California is inforces the State to make some very. very difficult decisions. Why? Because the Federal Government has not kept their promise. The check is in the mail. Sure. the check is in the mail. I also spoke of refugee settlement. The bottom line on refugee settlement relative to a number of programs is twofold. where the Federal Government has broken their promise. The Federal Government started out by saying "We will provide you financial support. State of California. for helping the refugee families get settled." And they do need time to get settled. If we were transferred or moved to another State. we would need time to get settled. It is particularly hard on a refugee family. So the Federal Government started off by saying "We will give you 36 months support." That sounded reasonable. not too long a time. but time to get settled. Do you know what it is today.