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This memorandum was sent by Jim Connor to Jim Cannon and Phil Buchen.
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30805993
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Action Memorandum Regarding Jim Lynn's Memorandum of July 3, 1975 Regarding Letter to Governors on Indochina Refugee Resettlement with Attachments
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30805993
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Action Memorandum Regarding Jim Lynn's Memorandum of July 3, 1975 Regarding Letter to Governors on Indochina Refugee Resettlement with Attachments
description
This memorandum was sent by Jim Connor to Jim Cannon and Phil Buchen.
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James E. Connor Files
Staff Comments Files
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30805993
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7
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1975-07-07
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7
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1975
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HIGH PRIORITY
THE WHITE HOUSE
ACTION MEMORANDUM
WASHINGTON
LOG NO.:
Date:
July 7, 1975
Time:
FOR ACTION:
JIM CANNON
CC (for information):
PHIL BUCHEN
FROM THE STAFF SECRETARY
DUE: Date:
Tuesday, July 8
Time:
2 P.M.
SUBJECT:
Jim Lynn's memo of 7/3/75 re
Letter to Governors on Indochina Refugee
Resettlement
ACTION REQUESTED:
For Necessary Action
X For Your Recommendations
Prepare Agenda and Brief
Draft Reply
X For Your Comments
Draft Remarks
REMARKS:
OMB is most anxious to have these letters sent to the
Governors.
Buchen- concers
Cannon - 1 see attached comments.
Letters sent July 11th
also letter later send
to mayor W ashington
PLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED.
If you have any questions or if you anticipate a
delay in submitting the required material, please
Jim Connor
telephone the Staff Secretary immediately.
For the President
July 10, 1975
Bob Linder -
The attached letter
has been approved by the President
to go to all Governors.
This should be done
today.
Thanks
Jim Connor
GERALD
R
FORD
LLGRARY
well hu dated 7/11/75, x
advised OMB X Cannon
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
July 10, 1975
MR PRESIDENT:
Staffing of the attached memorandum
from Paul O'Neill resulted in concurrence from
Phil Buchen and the following comments from Jim Cannon.
"If this letter is sent from the President to
all Governors, we can expect some critical
responses from Governors who would oppose
aiding the refugees unless and until the needs
of other Vietnam era veterans have been
adequately cared for in their judgment. That
kind of response would get far more attention
than any of the positive responses. Governor
Brown of California has already publicly stated
his opposition to refugee aid, and we can
expect that he would use the President's letter
as a further occasion to be critical. 11
Do you approve the preparation
of the attached Presidential letter to all Governors?
Yes yes.
No
Jim Connor
GERALD
FORD
LISTARY
Jim -
Staffing of Jim Lynn's memo of 7/3/75 re Letter to Governors
on Indochina Refugee Resettlement resulted in the following:
Buchen -
Concurs
Cannon -
Recommends against sending the letters --
comments attached.
Further action?
Trudy
7/9/75
GERALD R FORD
LIGRARY
THE WHITE House
WASHINGTON
Jim -
This proposed draft was lost
in OMB over the week-end --- they
are anxious for the President to sgn --
I believe it has to be staffed before
it can go. Agree?
Staff to: Cannon
Buchen
Marsh
Trudy
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF management and budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503
JUL 3 - 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
DEPUTY DIRECTOR ISI O'Reill
SUBJECT:
Letter to Governors on Indochina
Refugee Resettlement
Attached is a letter to all Governors prepared for your
signature by the Interagency Task Force for Indochina
Refugees.
The letter gives information about the refugee resettle-
ment program and asks the States to develop their own
resettlement programs with Federal assistance. The
model for such a program is the one launched by Governor
Dan Evans in Washington State. The Federal Regional
Councils will help the Task Force to follow up with the
Governors and will aid the States in the establishment
of their own resettlement programs.
The States offer a potential source for a large number
of new sponsors which are badly needed to supplement those
being generated by the voluntary agencies.
A Presidential letter to all the Governors will be a big
help in encouraging States to participate in the program.
I recommend that you sign it.
Attachment
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington
Dear Governor
As you know, on May 24, 1975, I signed into law the
Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975
to assist in the resettlement of Vietnamese and Cambodian
refugees who are seeking new homes in the United States.
Since then, I have established an Interagency Task Force
on Refugees to coordinate the resettlement program and
to assure that it is accomplished as humanely and expedi-
tiously as possible. In addition, I have appointed a
Presidential Advisory Committee to assist in this effort.
I am pleased to report that as of June 30th, more than
41,000 of the 130,258 evacuees have joined their families
or sponsors in the United States and are beginning to
contribute to their new communities. These refugees have
been accorded parole status, making them eligible to remain
in the United States indefinitely and to accept employment.
All refugees, except those few deemed "self-sufficient",
will be assigned sponsors to assist in the resettlement
process. Sponsors may be individuals, families, service
organizations, churches or other groups. Commitment as a
2
sponsor, while not a legal one, involves a clear moral
obligation to help the refugee to the best of the sponsor's
ability.
Many individuals and voluntary agencies are participating
in the resettlement program by locating sponsors and
facilitating the movement of refugees from the four recep-
tion centers to their new homes. These voluntary efforts
have been exemplary, but we should not expect that they
alone will accomplish this great humanitarian task as
quickly as we would all wish.
I am encouraged that a number of States and local govern-
ments are developing programs to assist in expediting the
GERALD
resettlement of the refugees into their new communities.
THE
FORD
You have received information from the Advisory Committee
LISRANT
about one of these programs which Governor Dan Evans
launched in Washington State. This successful effort has
led to placement of more than 500 refugees with sponsors
throughout the State.
The Interagency Task Force is now prepared to contract with
other States which choose to develop their own resettlement
3
programs. Funds are available to support State efforts
through reimbursement of $500 for each refugee placed.
In addition, 100 percent federal reimbursement is avail-
able to all States for Medicaid, financial assistance,
and social services provided to refugees. Administrative
costs related to the provision of such services will also
be reimbursed. Financial support to help defray emergency
costs incurred by school districts, should they enroll large
numbers of refugee children, will also be available. These
programs are further described in materials being transmitted
to your State agencies through existing channels.
I have asked the Federal Regional Councils to assist the
Task Force by aiding State and local governments in the
development of programs which they wish to undertake. You
may expect to hear from a representative of the Federal
Regional Council in the near future.
Whether or not you choose to lead a resettlement effort in
your State, your leadership in assuring State agency and
private organization support of sponsoring families and
individuals will provide invaluable assistance to this
effort.
4
The responses of thousands of individuals and the untiring
efforts of voluntary agencies have demonstrated again the
generosity of Americans toward others seeking to find homes
in our country. I hope you will consider ways in which
your State may participate in this effort.
Sincerely,
GERALD LISERAY FORD