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NO. 179
I was pleased that the House Appropriations committee
supported the full amount of the President's fiscal year 1987
request for the refugee program. I urge you and your
colleagues to do the same.
Foreign Affairs Budget
But this is only part of a much larger foreign policy issue
now facing us. It is in our national interest to work together
with other nations to reduce political instabilities throughout
the world. But to address these instabilities, often at the
root of the world's refugee problem, requires that American
diplomacy have the proper tools including healthy foreign
assistance programs and energetic diplomatic representation.
Unfortunately, these tools are being drastically restricted
under current Congressionally-imposed cuts in our overall
foreign affairs budget. Put most bluntly, the cumulative effect
of these reductions will be devastating on our ability to meet
our responsibilities and commitments.
Today is not the day to discuss our overall foreign affairs
budget in any great detail. But it is essential that we all
recognize that the lack of the resources necessary to support
constructive American leadership in the international community
will inevitably have a negative impact on the management of
global refugee problems.
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