of the Federal Government responsible for our national security have long recognized the need to have machinery ready to be put into operation in the event of an international crisis, for the return to this country of the many U.S. citizens who are living in all areas of the world. The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has cooperated in development of plans for the reception of such evacuees when they reach the United States, for helping them to reach their destination within the United States, and to provide emergency assistance to those without resources. Under an allocation of funds from the President's emergency fund, the Department began rendering assistance the latter part of last fiscal year to needy U.S. citizens who have returned from Cuba.

As of the end of June, the number of U.S. citizens from Cuba who were receiving cash assistance was 103. This number increased to 140 families in July and an estimated 150 in August. It is difficult to predict how many persons will require assistance during the remaining 10 months of the fiscal year, but we have estimated an increase of 10 cases in September and assumed that the September level of 160 will remain constant throughout the fiscal year. In other words, we assume that to the extent new assistance cases are added, other cases will be closed.

The estimate contemplates that needy U.S. repatriates will receive temporary assistance in the amount necessary to secure the basic necessities of life as determined by the State in which they are located. The most nearly applicable standard of need for this purpose is the program of aid to dependent children since many of the repatriated families have children under 18 years of age. Some States, lacking adequate funds, are unable to pay the full amount which they determine is needed under their aid to dependent children assistance budgets. In such cases, arbitrary limitations are imposed which limit the amount a family can be paid. For example, although the average monthly assistance budget for an aid to dependent children family of a mother and two children in Florida is $129, the maximum State payment, irrespective of family size, cannot exceed $81. However, the average aid to dependent children family in Florida has monthly income other than the assistance payment amounting to $47. Thus the average aid to dependent children family in Florida has more in total with which to meet its needs than the State's assistance payment.

Under a Federal program we do not believe that arbitrary reductions should be made in the amounts determined by States as being necessary for minimum subsistence. This is particularly the case with respect to repatriated persons since (1) they are generally without any cash resources in view of their inability to take money from Cuba; (2) they do not possess the usual furniture and equipment essential to housekeeping which are usually owned by American families in this country; (3) many do not have relatives in this country or have lost contact with them; and (4) assistance payments are of temporary duration and repayment is contemplated when possible. Hence repatriated persons as a general rule have much greater need than recipients of State public assistance. The application of this policy results in an estimated average monthy payment of $130 per family, and a total estimate for cash assistance to U.S. repatriates from Cuba of $246,000. It is estimated that transportation to places of former residence or to join relatives will require approximately $23,000; medical care, $18,000; and other goods and services, $13,000. Thus the total estimate for the U.S. repatriates from Cuba is $300,000.

An amount of $75,000 is estimated as the cost of assisting persons returned from countries other than Cuba in 1962. For a number of years, the Department of State has requested the assistance of the Department in arranging for the reception and care of U.S. citizens who, due to ill health, destitution, etc., have had to return to this country. The Department of State identifies the persons as having returned to this country under these conditions. During the fiscal year 1961, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare received 83 such referrals for the very limited assistance that could be obtained through non-Federal agencies. The 1962 estimate assumes that the number of repatriated families in need of assistance will continue to increase and that 120 will require some form of assistance or care during the year.

Finally, $25,000 is requested for administrative costs which must be incurred in implementing the program.

EFFECT OF HOUSE ACTION

The House allowance provides $400,000 a reduction of $175,000 from the budget estimate.

The budget estimate of $575,000 requested for this program was prepared at a time when we had only 2 months' experience with the program of assistance to needy U.S. citizens who had returned from Cuba. Based upon the additional experience we have had during the months of July and August, we believe that the program can be operated within the $400,000 allowed by the House. Consequently, we are not appealing the $175,000 reduction to the Senate.

The budget estimate has been adjusted to reflect a smaller number of cases than we had originally estimated and a corresponding reduction has been made in the appropriation request. The original budget estimate assumed a rise in caseloads of repatriates from Cuba to 200 in August and a continuation of that caseload for the remainder of the year. The revised estimate assumes that these caseloads will rise more slowly to 160 in September and will remain at that level for the rest of the fiscal year.

Mr. Chairman, that concludes my statement. We shall do our best to answer any questions that you may have about the request.

The original request of $575,000 was made to implement an amendment to the Social Security Act included in Public Law 87-64 (approved June 30, 1961). This amendment authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to develop plans and make arrangements for providing temporary assistance and care within the United States to U.S. citizens and their dependents who are identified by the Department of State as having returned, or been brought back, to this country because of destitution, illness, war, threat of war, invasion, or similar crisis and are without available resources.

The House allowance provides $400,000, a reduction of $175,000 from the budget estimate. The budget estimate of $575,000 requested for this program was prepared at a time when there was only 2 months' experience with the program of assistance to needy U.S. citizens who had returned from Cuba. Based upon additional experience during the months of July and August, it now appears that the program can be operated within the $400,000 allowed by the House. Consequently, the $175,000 reduction is not being appealed to the Senate. The budget estimate has been adjusted to reflect a smaller number of cases than had originally been estimated and a corresponding reduction has been

made in the appropriation request. The original budget estimate assumed a rise in caseloads of repatriates from Cuba to 200 in August and a continuation of that caseload for the remainder of the year. The revised estimate assumes that these caseloads will rise more slowly to 160 in September and will remain at that level for the rest of the fiscal year.

GENERAL STATEMENT

Miss GOODWIN. Thank you, sir. It is always a pleasure to appear before you.

Senator HILL. You may proceed, now, in your own way.

Miss GOODWIN. This, as you know, is the request for funds for assistance to U.S. citizens returned from foreign countries, which is in connection with the amendments in 1961 under Public Law 87-64 of this year. The appropriation request could not be presented at the usual time, therefore, a supplemental request was submitted. Public Law 87-64 contains a new authority for provision of temporary assistance and care to needy U.S. citizens who are returned to this country because of destitution, illness, war, threat of war, invasion, or similar crisis.

We estimated, when we went to the House, that $400,000 would be required for the operation of this program in the fiscal year 1962. Of this amount, $300,000 is for assistance to U.S. citizens returned from Cuba.

The Department began giving assistance to this group the latter part of the fiscal year under special authority from the President, and on allocation of funds from his emergency fund.

ESTIMATE FOR GROUP FROM CUBA

The estimate for the group from Cuba comprises $226,000 for maintenance assistance and $54.000 for transportation, medical gear, and other goods and services. The estimate is based on 140 families receiving assistance in July, 150 in August, and an average of 160 cases per month for the remaining 10 months of the fiscal year 1962.

The average monthly payment per family is estimated as $130. The amount of assistance for persons returned from countries other than Cuba in 1962 is $75,000. This estimate assumes there will be a total of 120 cases that will require some form of assistance or care during the year.

The balance of the request, of $25,000, is for administrative costs which must be incurred in implementing the program.

HOUSE ALLOWANCE

The House allowed $400,000, a reduction of $175,000 from the original budget estimate. The estimate of $575,000 was prepared at a time when we had only 2 months' experience with the program. Based upon additional experience, and particularly because fewer people came from Cuba, it is felt that the program can be operated within the $400,000 allowed by the House. This, of course, assumes that there are no adverse changes in the international situation which would result in more people coming either from Cuba or elsewhere.