Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of the SmithSchiff amendment. striking the provision which cuts refugee admissions. The 50.000 refugee cap is a drastic. arbitrary reduction that will cut annual refugee admissions in half. This extreme cap represents less than half of our countrys current admissions. This is an unfair and unnecessary provision. The cap would severely limit the flexibility of the U.S. refugee system to respond to unpredictable humanitarian crises. For example. the administration set aside 2.000 refugee admission slots for Bosnians. many of which were filled by women who had been systematically raped by Serb forces. There are atrocities occurring throughout our world that cannot be factored accurately into a fixed number of refugee admissions. Women and children constitute 80 percent of the worlds refugees. This cap would have a tremendous negative effect on these people fleeing from danger and persecution. If this provision is passed. the United States will be sending a clear signal to the international community that it is backpedaling from its commitment to refugee protection. I urge my colleagues to exercise their compassion for the worlds refugee population and vote for the SmithSchiff amendment.
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