They performed a service for this country and that is the reason that they are now here. because their country has collapsed. The problem. however. is that when the Federal Government made a foreign policy decision to allow them into this country. it did not follow up that decision with the provision to deliver adequate support to the local districts so that education costs. welfare costs. and other costs would not have to be borne by local taxpayers who never made that foreign policy decision. That is why. during the immigration bill. I tried to offer an amendment which would correct the problem. because I think that there is a bigger problem than just the absence of money. I think the current system is broken. The problem is that refugees are abandoned at the doorstep of the local welfare office. This condemns those refugees to the welfare treadmill and it condemns local communities to having to pay large amounts of their support. Mr. Chairman. that is why I tried on the immigration bill last year to require private voluntary organizations to actually assume their obligations and become true sponsors of refugees through an intensive case management approach of job skills and that our proposal would have barred ablebodied refugees from any cash assistance during their first year in the United States. This approach was tried on a pilot basis by Catholic Charities in Chicago and San Diego. They reduced welfare levels to a very low level. It was also tried by the Cuban American National Foundation in Florida. Both the Bush administration and the Clinton administration tried to adopt this approach but they were prevented in court from doing so. and I am extremely unhappy that the Committee on Rules prevented us from attacking this problem on the immigration bill. But I want to assure the gentleman that my interest remains and I know the gentleman has already joined in sponsoring that legislation with me. But I would invite other Members who are aware of the problem to join us. as well. because it is a serious problem.
Keywords matched
refugees immigration