Courtesy of State Historical Society of Iowa, 24 May 1979
Description
The source is a transcription of Iowa Governor Robert Ray's speech in front of the U.S. House of Representatives' subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and International Law in 1979. Ray spoke on his feelings of moral obligation for resettling Tai Dam refugees in Iowa, as well as the keys to success of the program.
Full Transcript of Gov. Robert Ray's Congressional Hearing Testimony
Transcribed Excerpt from Gov. Robert Ray's Congressional Hearing Testimony
Source-Dependent Questions
- What opinions did other government leaders hold about Governor Robert Ray and Iowa's refugee resettlement? Why might that help with other state's decisions to resettle refugees?
- According to Governor Ray, what two goals were achieved when resettling the Tai Dam people in Iowa? Why did Ray feel these goals were important to the Tai Dam and to Iowa?
- Governor Ray mentions that the Tai Dam people are "... contributing members of our society, paying taxes and earning their own way. These people have become productive, contributing members of our society, paying taxes and earning their own way." Why might this be an important point to mention if other states were considering rehoming refugees?