1 EXTENSION OF INDOCHINA REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1977 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND INTERNATIONAL LAW OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 9:35 a.m., Hon. Joshua Eilberg [chairman of the subcommittee] presiding. Present: Representatives Eilberg, Harris, Fish, and Sawyer. Also present: Garner J. Cline and Arthur P. Endres, Jr., counsel; Mark R. Zecca, assistant counsel; and Alexander B. Cook, associate counsel. Mr. EILBERG. The subcommittee will come to order. The Chair recognizes Mr. Sawyer. Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent of the subcommittee to permit coverage of this hearing by television broadcast, radio broadcast, still photography, in accordance with committee rule 5. Mr. EILBERG. Without objection permission is granted. Today's hearing has been called to consider identical proposals which have been introduced by Chairman Rodino-H.R. 9133—and myself-H.R. 9134 on behalf of the administration to extend the Indochina refugee assistance program. That program is currently due to expire on the last day of this month, and it is for this reason that urgent action is required by the Congress if this program is to be extended. It is recalled that the congressional intent surrounding the initial program which was authorized by the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 was that it was to be one of limited duration. In fact, the legislative history surrounding both the authorization and appropriation legislation makes this intent quite clear. It should be noted that the legislative history reflected recognition of the fact that the Cuban refugee program has yet to be terminated, and has involved expenditures of over $1 billion to date. I am, therefore, gratified, that the legislation before us today does not call for an indefinite extension of the program. During the course of today's hearing we will attempt to discuss the respective roles and responsibilities of the Federal, State, and local governments and the voluntary agencies in the resettlement process. (1) In particular, I am anxious to learn what types of assistance have been provided which have been the most successful; and what long-term responsibilities have been accepted by the voluntary agencies. In my judgment, based upon my close scrutiny of this massive resettlement program, the roles of these various parties must be more carefully defined, and there must be greater accountability concerning the expenditure of resettlement funds. My general views on U.S. refugee policies and procedures are well known, and in fact some are embodied in my refugee bill, H.R. 7175, which has been favorably reported by my subcommittee. My position has been that the various agencies in our Government have consistently responded in an unobjective and haphazard fashion whenever refugee situations develop around the world. It is also evident that there is little, if any, coordination between those who decide whether to assist a particular group of refugees and those who are charged with the responsibility of resettling such refugees after their arrival. H.R. 7175 would tend to rectify some of the ad hoc nature of this influx of refugees. [The bills referred to follow, together with H.R. 9110, which is an alternative proposed to H.R. 9133 and H.R. 9134:] 1 Mr. STARK (for himself, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. PHILLIP BURTON, Mr. EDWARDS of California, Mr. HARRINGTON, Mr. McCORMACK, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. PATTISON of New York, Mr. STEIGER, Mr. BOB WILSON, Mr. WINN, and Mr. ULLMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 to extend the period during which refugee assistance be provided. 1 may Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That section 2 of the Indochina Migration and Refugee 4 Assistance Act of 1975 is amended to read as follows: 5 "SEC. 2. (a) (1) Subject to subsection (b), there are 6 authorized to be appropriated, in addition to amounts other7 wise available, such sums as may be necessary for carrying 8 out paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) of section 2 (b) of 9 the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 with I 2 1 respect to aliens who have fled from Cambodia, Vietnam, 3 "(2) Funds appropriated under this Act shall be made 4 available to State or local public agencies to reimburse 5 them for the non-Federal share of costs under titles IV and 6 XIX of the Social Security Act for the provision of cash or 7 medical assistance to aliens who have fled from Cambodia, 8 Vietnam, or Laos. 9 "(b) (1) None of the funds authorized to be appropri10 ated by subsection (a) shall be available for obligation after 11 September 30, 1980. 12 "(2) The amount of assistance (including the amount 13 of reimbursement as described in subsection (a) (2)) pro14 vided to a State or local public agency under section 2 (b) 15 of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 for 16 the purpose of providing cash or medical assistance to aliens 17 who have fled from Cambodia, Vietnam, or Laos and who 18 entered the United States prior to August 11, 1977, may not 19 exceed 20 21 22 23 "(A) for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1979, 75 per centum, and 66 (B) for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, 50 per centum, 24 of the cost (including the non-Federal share of costs as de25 scribed in subsection (a) (2)) of the State or agency in 3 1 providing such assistance for such purpose for the fiscal year 2 ending September 30, 1978. 3 "(3) Assistance provided to a State or local public 4 agency under section 2 (b) of the Migration and Refugee 5 Assistance Act of 1962 for the purpose of providing cash 6 assistance, medical assistance, and social services, including 7 administrative costs, to aliens who have fled from Cambodia, 8 Vietnam, or Laos and who entered the United States on or 9 after August 11, 1977, may be used to pay the full amount 10 of the cost of the State or agency in providing such assistance for such purpose for the period from August 11, 1977, 12 through September 30, 1980.". 11 13 SEC. 2. (a) Section 4 (b) of the Indochina Migration 14 and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 is amended by striking 15 out paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs (2) and 16 (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively. (b) Section 4 (c) of such Act is amended (1) by striking out "September 30, 1977” and in serting in lieu thereof "September 30, 1980"; and (2) by striking out "December 31, 1977" and inserting in lieu thereof "December 31, 1980". |