Mr. President. I think it is important to understand my supporting a 1year extension of the law which facilitates the granting of refugee status for certain historically persecuted groups in the former Soviet Union and Indochina. The law expires at the end of fiscal year 1996 and Is extended for 1 year in this bill. It has been renewed several times. As a matter of fact. the last time was in 1994. and that vote was decided by an 8515 outcome. So we are looking at the same situation. very frankly. Existing law formally recognizes that historic experiences of certain persecuted religious minorities in the former Soviet Union and Indochina and a pattern of arbitrary denials of refugee status to members of these minorities entitles them to a relaxed standard of proof in determinations about whether they are refugees. The law lowers the evidentiary standard required to qualify for refugee status for Jews and Evangelical Christians from the former Soviet Union. certain Ukrainians. and certain categories of Indochinese. Once a refugee applicant proves that he or she is a member of one of those groups. he or she has to demonstrate a "credible basis for concern" about the possibility of persecution. Refugee applicants normally must prove a "wellfounded" fear of persecution. Why is the extension necessary? my friend from Wyoming challenges. Because the popularity. as we see it now. of ultranationalists and the resurgence of the Communists in the former Soviet Union has created a climate of tension. fear. and even violence against Jews. despite the fact that antiSemitism is no longer formally statesponsored.
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refugees Refugee refugee