I cannot understand the argument that we should not use our aid as a lever to get the Russian leadership to withdraw those troops. It seems that this should be a minimum requirement. The debate over this bill has also cleared up one of the problems over immigration and refugee policy contained in the original language. A section that would have resulted in additional unspecified direct spending. making the bill subject to a point of order under the Budget Act. was eliminated. I consider this a marked improvement. because. as I have said previously. we should be concentrating our efforts on meeting our existing needs before we incur additional liabilities. However. another provision that relaxes the standards for admission to the United States as a refugee for certain groups of people in the former Soviet Union and Indochina remains in the bill. I do not consider this as an appropriate vehicle for making immigration policy. I would prefer to see the Senate engage in a comprehensive review of immigration and refugee policy rather than this piecemeal approach. I think we need to seriously review our current policies in light of pressing domestic needs and I look forward to that debate. It is worth exploring the contributions that ought to be made to Russia and the new independent republics by the oilrich states of the Persian Gulf.
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immigration refugee