Mr. President. amendment No. 491 permits States to use surplus fiscal 1992 refugee cash and medical assistance funds to pay fiscal 1993 claims. CBO has looked at the amendment. and has determined that it has no impact on budget authority or outlays. The amendment merely allows States to use unspent balances from previous years to cover a $15 million shortfall in fiscal 1993. as requested by the administration. The House deferred consideration of this matter. and we were only able to provide $3.700.000 in the committeereported version of the bill. due to our tight allocation coiling. The amendment is needed to prevent a drastic cutback in services from taking place August 1. 1993. On that date. refugee cash and medical assistance would be cut from 8 months down to 3 months. Refugees who arrive this summer may be without food. shelter. or medical care if this reduction takes place. The regular fiscal 1993 refugee appropriation was cut by $29.149.000 in anticipation of moving to a costsaving. consolidated program design. however. court action has now indefinitely blocked consolidation. Over the past 8 years. refugee assistance has dropped from over $6.600 per refugee to less than $3.000 this year. This funding helps refugees become selfsufficient taxpayers. and avoids costly welfare payments. This amendment is a good compromise. resolving the refugee budget shortfall. without having to appropriate more money. Mr. President.
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