Propriety of the Use of Emergency Funds To Make Grants to Voluntary Agencies Providing Similar Services

Funds appropriated for Migration and Refugee Assistance under the Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 1979 may be made available to pay voluntary agencies for services that they rendered to refugees during calendar year 1978. Due to a liberalization of Soviet policies on exit visas, the number of Soviet refugees increased greatly and by August 1978, the voluntary agencies had expended the full amounts provided by the Department of State, thus forcing the agencies to use their own or borrowed resources. The Department of State requested the President to draw upon the Emergency Fund by the amount of $1.5 million in order to make grants to the voluntary agencies. Several Presidential Determinations from 1976 through 1978 have authorized the use of the Emergency Fund for unforeseen needs in ongoing programs. Interpretation of the term "unexpected urgent" needs as provided under the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act appears to refer to needs to be satisfied immediately and thus to authorize the use of the Emergency Fund.