Health and Human Services and Education. In the letter. which was circulated by Mr. SCHUMER of New York and myself and signed by 116 of our colleagues. we ask Chairman NATCHER for an appropriation of $521 million. the minimum amount needed to adequately maintain refugee and entrant assistance programs. Since the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980. the Federal Government. State and local governments. and private voluntary organizations have cooperated to provide healthcare services. English education. job training. and other services and benefits to refugees who for special humanitarian. foreign policy. and family reunification reasons have been granted the right to reside here. States. localities and private agencies have committed millions of dollars to this partnership. yet Federal funding has steadily eroded. The Presidents proposal to cut Federal funding for these programs by almost onehalf could destroy the program altogether. Mr. Speaker. worldwide events continue to reinforce the vital humanitarian role of our refugee programs and ensure that refugee issues remain a priority foreign policy concern. We urge the Appropriations Committee to adequately fund these important programs.
Keywords matched
family reunification Refugee refugee refugees