HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06021992 - 2.2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Contra
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FROM: Rose Manning Costa
Interim County Welfare Director
County
DATE. May 22, 1992
SUBJECT:
FEDERAL REFUGEE REAUTHORIZATION LEGISLATION
AND FUNDING LEVELS
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)6 BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION
Approve and authorize the Chair, Board of Supervisors, to send letters to the Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS and Education and the Senate Judiciary
Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Affairs urging them to reauthorize the
domestic refugee assistance program at a minimum funding level of $620 million for
FY 1992. Further, approve and authorize the Chair, Board of Supervisors, to send
letters to the cities, employee organizations and the California Delegation urging them
to support the County's position.
BACKGROUND
The Refugee Act of 1980 provided 100% federal funding for cash, medical and
services programs for refugees for their first 36 months of residence in the United
States. Over the years, Congress has periodically reduced budget appropriations to
the extent that currently Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and medical benefits are only
available for the refugee's first 8 months in the United States. This curtailment of
funds causes County costs to increase because most refugees cannot learn English,
acquire work skills and become self-sufficient by the time their RCA benefits are
exhausted. Consequently, the number of refugees on General Assistance (GA) has
increased 107% in the past year (from 172 refugees receiving GA in March, 1991, to
356 refugees receiving GA in March, 1992).
Now the President is proposing to cut refugee program funding by 45% (from $410
million to $227 million). At the same time Congress has authorized a 26% increase in
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ZYES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
.SIGNATURE(S):
1992
ACTION OF BOARD ON june ° APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED XX OTHER X
REQUESTED Director of Social Service to prepare appropriate letters for the Chair's
signature.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X _ _ _ I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT + AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED June 2, 1992
Dir. , Social Service PHIL BATCHELOR.CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382 (10/88)
BY ' �/��� DEPUTY
r i
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
May 22, 1992
Page 2
refugee admissions. This will result in further reduction of the refugee cash, medical
and service programs and will increase County costs further.
Several organizations (The National Governor's Association, The National Association
of Counties, American Public Welfare Association, National Conference of State
Legislatures, The United States Conference of Mayors) have written a joint letter to the
two Senate committees listed above recommending that Congress pass a one-year
reauthorization of the domestic refugee assistance program with a.minimum funding
level of $620 million. The'California County Welfare Director's Association and the
State Department of Social Services are urging counties to write letters supporting this
recommendation.
RM:ceb