[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 59 (Friday, May 10, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATCH:
  S. 2504. A bill to extend eligibility for refugees status of 
unmarried sons and daughters of certain Vietnamese refugees; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a Senate 
companion to H.R. 1840, a bill to extend the eligibility for refugee 
status of immigrants who are the unmarried children of qualified 
Vietnamese nationals. This bill would extend the authority to process 
such individuals through fiscal year 2003, as it was set to expire 
earlier this year. The House and Senate have been in communication 
regarding this bill for some time, and given that the Senate Judiciary 
Committee approved the House version of this bill by unanimous consent 
this morning, I have little doubt that the entire Senate will extend 
their support.
  This is a very important piece of legislation and one that will 
provide crucial relief to a small, yet deserving group of people, the 
children of those Vietnamese nationals who were placed in internment 
camps by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and are now in the United 
States as refugees. We simply cannot expect the sons and daughters of 
these Vietnamese nationals to be forgotten. It is our duty to support 
the sacrifices that these families made for freedom and democracy and I 
find it most appropriate that we prevent further persecution by 
welcoming their children.
  I want to commend Congressman Tom Davis on his introduction of this 
legislation in the House. I urge my Senate colleagues' support.
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