[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S9091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REAUTHORIZING THE REFUGEE ASSISTANCE ACT

  Mr. GORTON. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the 
consideration of S. 1161, introduced earlier today by Senator Abraham.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1161) to amend the Immigration and Nationality 
     Act to authorize appropriations for refugee and entrant 
     assistance for fiscal years 1998 and 1999.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
reauthorize the Refugee Assistance Act. The act authorizes assistance 
to refugees through grants to private non-profit associations, as well 
as public associations, to be used to provide services such as job 
training, educational programs, and English language classes to newly 
arrived refugees. These programs play an important role in the American 
tradition of opening new doors to those from around the world who have 
been subjected to persecutions of all kinds.
  I would note that under the act, the Department of Health and Human 
Services is free to experiment with innovative ways to help refugees 
become self-sufficient in America. For example, the program currently 
makes some use of private nonprofit groups in rendering assistance to 
refugees, and I would encourage the Department of Health and Human 
Services to expand those uses more broadly. Such experimentation has 
great potential to help the program accomplish its purpose to help 
refugees make a new life for themselves, rather than becoming dependent 
on the Government. My understanding is that the Department of Health 
and Human Services is also committed to experiments along these lines, 
and I look forward to working with the administration and the nonprofit 
community involved with refugees to make this program even more 
effective in the next few years.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, Senator Abraham and I have introduced a 
2-year extension of the Refugee Act. The Refugee Act is the core of 
U.S. refugee policy. It sets the criteria under which persons can be 
designated as refugees, and provides funds for refugee resettlement. 
Last year, the United States admitted more than 75,000 refugees under 
the Refugee Act's criteria.
  In addition to determining whom is considered a refugee, the Refugee 
Act allows the Department of Health and Human Services, through the 
Office of Refugee Resettlement [ORR], to provide services to refugees 
resettled in the United States. For example, ORR provides job training 
and employment assistance to new refugees to help them become 
economically self-sufficient. ORR helps States provide English language 
classes, preventive health services, and cash assistance to new 
refugees to help them get on their feet in their new country. Refugees 
often arrive in the United States terrified, jet-lagged, and with few 
possessions. Most fled persecution in their home countries, and left 
their clothes and possessions behind. These programs make a refugee's 
assimilation into the United States a little easier.
  In addition to providing assistance directly to refugees, the Refugee 
Act provides funds to the Public Health Service to provide overseas 
medical screening for United States-bound refugees for the protection 
of public health against contagious diseases. ORR also provides 
targeted assistance to States and counties with large refugee 
populations, and runs matching grant programs for voluntary agencies 
that assist States in refugee resettlement. For example, The Boston 
Tech Center in Middlesex County, MA received $250,000 in discretionary 
targeted assistance to teach refugees short-term skills training, basic 
English and math. The International Rescue Committee in Boston received 
funds under the Refugee Act to provide a refugee youth program for 
newly arrived Somali children.
  Mr. President, the Refugee Act is the heart of our refugee law and 
policy. If it is not reauthorized, the United States will send a signal 
worldwide that refugees are no longer welcome here. We cannot let that 
happen. I am grateful to my colleagues for supporting this bill.
  Mr. GORTON. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read the third time 
and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any 
statements relating to the bill appear at this point in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1161) was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1116

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR REFUGEE AND 
                   ENTRANT ASSISTANCE

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 414(a) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1524(a)) is amended 
     by striking ``fiscal year 1995, fiscal year 1996, and fiscal 
     year 1997'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 1998 and 
     1999''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect October 1, 1997.

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