Speech #1030037659

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 2128. to authorize the refugee resettlement program for fiscal years 1993 and 1994. This is a simple. straightforward piece of legislation. Currently. the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes such sums as may be necessary for the refugee program for fiscal year 1992. Funds for fiscal year 1993 were appropriated but never authorized. H.R. 2128 simply changes the authorized years to 1993 and 1994 to comply with the Appropriations Committees request for an authorization prior to appropriating a supplemental. This legislation is needed immediately in order to allow a supplemental appropriation for the Office of Refugee Resettlement to move forward. Without this supplemental. the primary Federal program for refugee resettlement will be cut from 8 months of cash and medical assistance for recipients to 3 months. Such a cut would be devastating for the refugee resettlement program. When we first set up the program through the Refugee Act of 1980. Congress authorized 36 months of resettlement assistance to help these dispossessed persons adjust and become selfsufficient In their new home. Over the years. the Federal Government has reduced the cash and medical assistance program from 36 months. to 18 months. then to 12 months. and finally to 8 months. ReducIng assistance further to 3 months would be tantamount to bringing these refugees into the United States and abandoning them. H.R. 2128 does not specify authorized dollar amounts. Last year Congress appropriated $381 million for fiscal 1993 for refugee resettlement. The supplemental appropriation request. which originally was for $27 million. Is now for $15 million. for a total fiscal 1993 funding level of $396 million. The budget request for fiscal 1994 is $420 million. These figures are not out of line with the fiscal 1992 funding level of $410 million. In fact. they represent a significant decrease in the Federal Governments share of responsibility for refugee resettlement from what was envisioned In the Refugee Act of 1980. H.R. 2128 Is a simple bill that is nevertheless vital to the refugee resettlement program. The legislation represents our countrys continued commitment to the worlds refugees who have no hope of returning safely to their home countries. We are doing the right thing by helping these unfortunate people. and they. In turn. are enriching our culture as contributing members of our society.