Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. This bill. as the chairman has so aptly put it. simply reauthorizes the Refugee Resettlement Program. for the current fiscal year and fiscal year 1994. It makes no changes in the Refugee Resettlement Program as it now operates. The program. as he stated. is not currently authorized. The 3year reauthorization bill that the Committee on the Judiciary reported last year was not scheduled for floor consideration prior to adjournment of the 102d Congress. Although funding for refugee resettlement was appropriated for fiscal year 1993. the $381 million funding level was $29 million less than the funding level for fiscal 1992. A supplemental appropriation of about $15 million is required in order to allow the current resettlement program to continue to the end of this fiscal year. However. it is my understanding that the Committee on Appropriations has indicated it will not approve the administrations request for this supplemental unless the program is reauthorized. The specific program for which the funding is required provides cash and medical assistance to refugees who are resettled in this country. This particular program benefits refugees who do not qualify for AFDC. supplemental security income. or Medicaid. It is intended to support the refugees until they can become selfsufficient. If we do not reauthorize the refugee resettlement program. the supplemental appropriation will not be approved. Without the supplemental. cash and medical assistance for refugees will be cut from 8 months to 3 months effective July 1. Any refugee who entered the United States within the last 7 months would immediately become ineligible for assistance. Some States. such as Florida. would have to shut down their refugee programs. leaving refugees who entered the United States in the last 3 months of the fiscal year with no cash and medical assistance. Mr. Speaker. I strongly believe that we need to revisit the Refugee Program. I do not think that the authorization type of program that now exists is the way it ought to be. We need to work on it.
Keywords matched
refugees Refugee refugee