[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 62 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      LEASING UKRAINIAN CRUISE SHIPS TO CARE FOR HAITIAN REFUGEES

  (Mr. DUNCAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, National Public Radio reported yesterday 
that the Federal Government is now renting two Ukranian cruise ships to 
take care of Haitian refugees.
  According to NPR, the Government is spending $30,000 per day to lease 
these ships.
  This $30,000 per day does not include food and fuel.
  The contract that has been signed is for 6 months, and the Ukranian 
company has now canceled its summer cruises because it is much easier 
to make money off Uncle Sam.
  What a ridiculous waste of millions of dollars.
  We are now going to take in thousands, maybe millions of Haitian 
refugees, really primarily because of domestic political 
considerations.
  Illegal aliens are already costing this Nation many billions each 
year. There is simply no way we can afford to take in all the millions 
who want to come here from all over the world.
  We need to work with the United Nations to get some other countries 
to take some refugees. We cannot do this all alone.
  However, the truth is that these refugees do not want to go to other 
countries.
  One thing is for sure--No other Nation is spending $30,000 a day to 
lease cruise ships to make it easier and more pleasant for Haitians to 
come in.

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