Edward M. Kennedy: “late last month the Board of Directors of the National Migration Forum and the Inter-Action's Committee on Migration and…”

“late last month the Board of Directors of the National Migration Forum and the Inter-Action's Committee on Migration and Refugee Affairs attempted to pay tribute to the long and distinguished service of Wells Klein, a long-time servant and advocate for refugees around the world. Unfortunately, the event was canceled because of the winter storm over Washington. But no storm can diminish his record of service, and I am pleased to join with Senate Simpson in offering these brief words of tribute. Wells Klein is retiring after 20 years as executive director of the American Council for Nationalities Service. However, those of us who have served on the Senate Refugee Subcommittee knew of his work and valued his counsel long before he joined the Council. On repeated occasions during the Vietnam war, when we were trying to highlight the need and increase support for refugees and civilian war casualties, Wells served as a special consultant--traveling to the field, reviewing the situation on the front lines, and reporting the enormous human costs involved in that tragic conflict. And repeatedly he returned to our Subcommittee to outline his findings and recommendations and, in the process, to advance the cause of Vietnam's war victims. Countless thousands were saved through his work during those difficult years.…”