HUMANITARIAN AND RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES FROM INDOCHINA
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CIA-RDP77M00144R001100130001-8
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K
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2
Document Creation Date:
December 16, 2016
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April 5, 2005
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1
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Publication Date:
May 8, 1975
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Approved For Release 2005/04/13 : CIA-RDP77M00144RO01100130001-8 S 7659
.May 8, 1975 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -SENATE
of America and reaffirm what hopefully vide resettlement and humanitarian as- progress. But more important are the ad-
e and Inltyhe stands world. for, both here at fe s in at least four w ysff from the bills gels which in 's appeals on effect cover behalf ance to refugees from Indochina, dif- hom up for its be-
America
The resolution speaks for itself. I will already introduced. havior during the final shabby chapter n . Even
read i and that is all I will say at this ist aFirst. The bill would tion's aid request limit the admin- of our involvement
00 for though the fall of theiTh eu government
moment:
particular
S. RES. 148a period of 3 months following the date was seen as inevitable, the administra-
Whereas, ours is a nation of immigrants of enactment of this bill. tion, through the Embassy in Saigon, did
s
ation as
did our prepare allied for an orderly governments. I evacuu teon,
and descendants of immigrants, many of Second. This legislation would require not
whom fled from tyranny and bloodshed in that at the end of the 2 months, the ad- confusion and panic, well reported
their native lands where they were scorned, ministration report to Congress exactly spread by CBS' confusion and Many these orted
hated and hunted, and how they are spending the refugee funds,
Whereas, they came here because they how much more they need, and exactly gees could have remained in Vietnam, as
knew they opuod and in America safety, why they need it. It requires a plan by Senator McGovExx has so cogently ex-
freedom and opportunit, and plained, had a clear policy been followed
Whereas, they found all those things and the administration. by the administration. But just as we
more, for they also found America to be a Third. It would provide funds to any binto administration.
so we seem to
land of compassion as well as affluence, Vietnamese or Cambodian refugee who bungled une bungled out nit, ruining we lives and
magnanimity as well as wealth, and has had a change of heart and who u
t psetting possibilities for future lives and
beings not these eel- only wishes to return to his or her homeland. ciliation with the Vietnamese people.
Whereas, , less-fortunate ahs human welcomed
low, r sbut but for our own, knowing Finally, the bill would set a 1-year
that hat their sake a they strengthened our national vital- moratorium ium on all hiring by any U.S. This administration has turned its
humanitarian aid for American
Ity, constantly renewing the diversity and Intelligence agency or the Department of back k on on huumanivetoing Congress farm bill,
richness of our lives and the pluralism and Defense of refugees who participated in farmers tb to extort ngress fa money onal
dynamism of our society, and
Whereas, this periodic influx of refugees the Operation Phoenix program. from the poor and elderly for food
and exiles can serve to keep us humble, The administration is using the figure stamps, and poor labeling various other
saving us from the sins of arrogance, pride of $507 million, in addition to the $98 s ampssinal proposals to help other
and self-righteousness by reminding us of million already appropriated for the cans inflationary. This administration
our origins, of the misery that abounds else- Vietnamese refugees. The bills already cans inflationary.
back on refugees from
where in the world, and of the destiny that introduced., however, provide for un- fascism and barbarism in Chile and
may also befall us should we betray our limited and open-ended funding for the other countries; it shows little interest in
Be itheritage,resolnowved, That therefore the Senate reaffirms President's program. If we accept about stopping or protesting the widsepread
that the Statue of Liberty is, as Emma 130,000 refugees as the reports now practiced by several of our
allies. Tvery erale who
Lazarus called her, the Mother of Exiles; state-and incidentally, I might add, Mr. use use of ofl torture
that the Senate reaffirms that the lesson of President, that just yesterday, the' ad- dropped millions The tver of bombs o
on
the parable of the Good Samaritan lives on ministration announced its intention to dropped many s of them civilian
in the minds and hearts of the American increase its parole authority to 150,00- Vietnam, of
and sough, those targets people and is a part of their character; and the sum requested by the administration same ponc the north and
who defoliated the
that the Senate welcomes warmly the latest breaks down to approximately $4,000 per
the Vietnam countryside and pushed hundreds of
exiles to our Camambobodiadia. refugees from South person, or $16,000 for a family of four- cuntrysi of Vietnamese from dyed vof
and C which is a great deal more than needy
Mr. President, I send the resolution Americans receive from any Government lages, now call on Congress to pass a so-
to the desk and ask for its immediate agency and infinitely more than we pro- called We are humanitarian ahaid il mea measuure.
e. aid to
consideration. posed in the farm bill which the Presi- of rrn trained Political assassins
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tern- dent found "inflationary." Furthermore, thousands tof the Phoenix fs
pore. The resolution will be stated . we have preliminary reports that a large who Vietnamese operated who corrupted their program,
for
The legislative clerk proceeded to read percentage of these refugees speak Eng- who car n money, their ow, and
the resolution. lish and have American sponsors who ciety using for prostitutes, bars,
Mr. CRANSTON. Mr. President, since have pledged to be responsible foi- them. equipment;
I have just read the resolution, I ask Because of our involvement and com- pimps, and other undesirables; but we
unanimous consent that the reading be plicity in the war, it would be unfair and have refused asylum in this country for
dispensed with. certainly errant to turn our backs. on people who have tried to live honestly in
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- these people now that our involvement other countries, but could not do so be-
Pore. Without objection, it is so ordered. has ended. We ought to help the legiti- cause of the antihumanitarian policies
- ca some other governments, most of who
Mr. CRANSTON. Mr. President, I ask mate refugees, just as we have helped the from our Government. I
. refugees, government,,,,
unanimous consent-this has been dis- hundreds of thousands of refugees from obtain sut tom o Jews, ernm rota
cussed with the leadership on both other parts of the world in years passed am s
ing S from Brasil, Chile, ian
sides-that at 2:30 p.m. today, this reso- What we ought not to do is to commit rerefugees and
lution be laid before the Senate and that ourselves unnecessarily to a plan which is other nations.
The same President who says that
the vote on the resolution occur at 3 p.m. based on emotionalism and hastily pre-
today, after which the Senate will return pared plans and statistics. There is no young Americans must earn their way
to the consideration of the unfinished logical reason why this Congress must back to the United States from Canada
business. commit itself all the 'way through 1977 has denounced other American citizens
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- to decisions made within a few days' who question admission of Vietnamese
pore. Without objection, it is so ordered. time. It is highly unusual for Congress refugees.
ORDER OF BUSINESS to commit itself this far in advance, We did not evacuate only those Viet-
especially in a case such as this where namese who were supposedly marked for
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- many questions regarding the future are death. We did not have such a list. In-
pore. Does the Senator from Michigan still unanswered. The State Department, stead our Embassy spread panic among
seek recognition? for example, has indicated that a few many sectors of the Vietnamese and,
Mr. GRIFFIN. No, Mr. President. refugees have indicated that they would therefore, induced more to flee than
pro
tom- like to return to their homeland. There might have done so under a more re-
The ACTING PRESIDENT
r
de
d to
s
id
kin
e u....
prov
--- he
AND RESETTLE- ogees as well. more money in the way the administra-
MENT ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES The administration has failed to com- tion suggests will solve anything.
FROM INDOCHINA pile adequate data on the refugees and Before we vote on appropriations of
Mr. ABOUREZK. Mr. President, the continues to provide inadequate and this magnitude and for this length of
bill which I am introducing today to pro- sketchy reports, to Congress as to their time, we ought to let the dust settle and
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S 7660 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - SE;`rTATE May 8, 19751
emotions come down. -I think it is about
time we combined a little thought with
our generous inclinations. Instead of
continuing to bungle and bumble along,
following the contradictory and capri-
cious whims of the administration and
other officials, that we rethink and re-
plan our policy.
This bill is designed to do that, Mr.
President. It provides the amount of
money which the President has re-
quested, but for a more rational time
period. Circumstances and subsequent
needs are bound to change within the
next 2 months. I am convinced that
Congress will be in a much better posi-
tion to make further -decisions and com-
mitments after we have had the benefit
of hindsight in 2 months' time.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous con-
sent that the bill be printed in the
RECORD.
There being no objection, the bill was
ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as
follows :
S. 1684
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That this
Act may be cited as "The Vietnam and Cam-
bodia Refugee Resettlement Assistance Act."
SEC. 2. For the purposes of this Act the
term "refugee" shall be defined by section
2(b) (3) of the Migration and Refugee Assist-
ance Act of 1962, as amended.
SEC. 3. There is authorized to be appro-
priated $127,000,000 for a period of no more
than ninety days for assistance to refugees
from South Vietnam and Cambodia for the
following purposes:
(a) for the constructionand maintenance
of refugee staging areas and processing
facilities:
(b) for the processing and care of refu-
gees, including food, medical care, clothing
and shelter:
(c) for resettlement costs of volunteer
agencies;
(d) for soeial services, welfare, Medicaid,
bilingual and vocational education and pub-
lic health;
(e) for transportation to third countries
of refugees who need and desire such assist-
ance;
(f) for transportation to Vietnam and
Cambodia of refugees who wish to return
to their homeland.
Sec. 4. (a) At the end of a period of sixty
days following the date of enactment of this
Act the President shall report to the appro-
priate Committees of Congress regarding the
specific uses of the funds authorized by this
Act, the need for additional funds should he
deem such funds necessary and the specific
purpose for which such additional funds are
requested;
(b) At the end of the time period speci-
fied in Section 4(a) of this Act the President
shall submit a report to the appropriate
Committees of Congress containing all perti-
nent data regarding the occupations and
backgrounds of the refugees;
(c) Prior to the expiration of the time
period specified in Section 3 of this Act, the
Congress shall consider the amount of addi-
tional funds to be used for the purposes of
this Act and the duration of time in which
such additional funds may be expended.
SEc. 5. (a) Upon the enactment of this Act,
there shall be a one year moratorium on all
hiring of refugees from South Vietnam who
participated in the Operation Phoenix Pro-
gram by any intelligence agency of the
United States government or by the Depart-
ment of Defense;
(b) In addition to the information re-
quired by motion 4(b) of this Act, the
President shall submit a report to the appr:--
priate Committees of the Congress contain-
ing all pertinent information relative o
refugees from South Vietnam who partici-
pated in the Operation Phoenix Program.
Mr. ABOUREZK. I yield back the re-
mainder-of my time.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Will the Senator from
South Dakota yield for a question?
Mr. ABOUREZK. I am happy to yield
to the distinguished Senator from Mich -
igan.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Under the bill he has
just introduced, am I correct in assum-
ing that there would be numbers of
refugees who would not want to go back
to South Vietnam because of concern
about being killed, but, under the bill,
would he be required to go back?
Mr. ABOUREZK. No, this bill does not
require refugees to go anywhere.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Did not the Senator',;
bill-
Mr. ABOUREZK. If I might answer
the Senator's question--
Mr. GRIFFIN. Did not his bill ex-
clude-
Mr. ABOUREZK. Does the Senator
wish me to answer the question or not?
Mr. GRIFFIN. I am asking, does not
the bill-
Mr. ABOUREZK. I do not wish to
yield further.
I yield back the remainder of my time,
Mr. President.
Mr. GRIFFIN. May I be recognized,
Mr. President?
ROUTINE MORNING BUSINESS
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
pore. Under the previous order, there
will be a period for the transaction of
Y The Senator from Michrecog-
HUMANITARIAN AND RESETTLE-
MENT ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES
FROM INDOCHINA
Mr. GRIFFIN. I was seeking to get an
answer to the question whether the bill
introduced by the Senator from South
Dakota would preclude some of the South
Vietnamese refugees from staying, and
which ones. There was reference to those
who had been associated with particular
projects or activities, as I recall. I assume
that those particular refugees could not
stay and would have to go back.
I assume thatbecause of their associa-
tion with such projects or activities, those
refugees might find themselves high on
the death list of the Communist rulers
in Vietnam. I wonder if I am mistaken?
Mr. ABOUREZK. Is the Senator ask-
ing me to respond to that?
Mr. GRIFFIN. I shall be glad to yield.
Mr. ABOUREZK. Will the Senator
yield enough time for a response?
Mr. GRIFFIN. Absolutely.
Mr. ABOUREZK. The bill does not
establish any qualifications for admission
of refugees. This bill provides that, in-
stead of granting the administration an
open-ended commitment for unlimited
sums of money to resettle refugees, they
come back in 2 months' time with -a plan.
It requires that the administration re-
turn with a plan that will inform Con-
gress exactly what it intends to do with
the moneyand how it intends to resettle
the refugees. It also requires a report on
what is to be done with the thousands of
hired political assassins in the Phoenix
program who are reported to be among
the refugees. It also sets a moratorium on
the hiring of these people by U.S. intelli-
gence agencies and the Defense Depart-
ment.
Mr. GRIFFIN. But it would be the
intention and contemplation of the Sen-
ator from South Dakota that he would
oppose any plan that did not exclude
and sendout those refugees to whom he
has made reference; is that right?
Mr. ABOUREZK, Let me inform the
Senator of my position, if that is what
he is asking.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Yes, I am trying to find
out.
Mr. ABOUREZK. All right. I will be
happy to tell him.
introduc
would o
country
if I kno
litical
States
as thei
that?
h the bill which I have just
does not deal with this, I
ose the admission into this
f any hired political assassin
that is what he is. I do not
low the possibility of hired Do-
M GRIFFIN. No. I thoroughly agree,
ins r as anyone can be identified in
th category.
the South Vietnamese refugees who hap-
pened to work in the office of the U.S.
Army or the CIA, and suppose the Army
or the CIA may have engaged in certain
military activities with which the Sena-
tor from South Dakota may not approve
and did not approve.
As I understand the Senator's explana-
tion he would send those refugees back.
He would not characterize those people
as hired political assassins, would he?
Mr. ABOUREZK. Neither my speech
nor my bill deals with sending anybody
back.
Mr. GRIFFIN. There was reference
to some associated with a Phoenix proj-
ect. I wonder what the Senator meant
by that?
Mr. ABOUREZK. Those are the polit-
ical assassins, the people associated
with the program whose objective was
to assassinate opponents of President
Thieu.
Mr. GRIFFIN. The Senator also made
reference to defoliation.
Mr. ABOUREZK. Yes.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Was he referring to
any South Vietnamese who worked for
a U.S. agency that had anything to do
with that project, also?
. Mr. ABOUREZK. No, I did not include
that category.
Mr. GRIFFIN. I thought the Senator
did make reference to that.
Mr. ABOUREZK. I referred to defolia-
tion in terms of the administration now
asking for humanitarian aid. The same
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