FOREIGN OPERATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
APRIL 26, 1979
HKK3Y
me focus for a moment on our refugee programs
RECEIVED IN REGKTITY NO.
10 MAY 1979
in particular.
We have begun to replace the existing patchwork ricik
INDEX
PA
of laws and programs with a more coherent and Aquitabfo.s
framework for refugee assistance and resettlement:
To provide better coordination and long-term
policy planning, the President has appointed former Senator Dick' Clark to the newly created post of Ambassador-at-Large and U.S. Coordinator for Refugee
Affairs.
the
We have worked closely with the Congress in developing a comprehensive legislative package
Refugee Act of 1979 which will give us a more realistic admissions policy and make all refugees eligible for certain basic kinds of assistance
once they arrive in this country.
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And I have decided to consolidate all overseas refugee functions in a new directorate in the State Iepartment, including African programs now in AID; Middle East programs now handled by the International . (rganizations Bureau; and the Indochinese, Eastern
I urope and other programs now in the Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs.
The new directorate
will report to Ambassador Clark and will provide
strong, centralized planning and management for these important programs.
As yo seď po bers cf refugees from Indochina and
are aware, because of the vastly in-
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