Background: As Congress makes decisions about refugee funding and responds to President Trump’s executive order impacting refugees, it is critical that our Senators and Representatives hear from us as constituents who care about refugees. While the executive order impacting refugees and Muslims is on hold due to a federal court order, it is likely that the President’s 2018 budget proposal will include cuts to refugee assistance and resettlement. Congress must robustly fund the Office of Refugee Resettlement (within Health and Human Services) and the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (within the State Department), at least at the levels they have been funded so far this year. Resettlement, saves lives, encourages other countries to keep their doors open to refugees, and promotes regional stability and global security. We must ensure that resettlement remains a strong public/private partnership.
CALL YOUR SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVES TODAY: 1-866-940-2439
Please call three times to be connected with your Representative and both of your Senators.
Sample Script: “I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN], and I urge you to support the U.S. refugee resettlement program. Please provide robust funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Migration and Refugee Assistance account. Resettlement is a core American legacy that allows refugees to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. My community welcomes refugees, and I urge you to reflect the best of our nation by supporting the refugee resettlement program.”
Feel free to also share a personal story about the importance of refugees to you, your faith, your community, your business, etc. Let them know the specific ways that refugees benefit and are welcomed into your community, and why refugee protection is so important to you.
You can also tweet at your Senators & Representatives:
- .@[SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE] Don’t stop welcoming refugees. Resettlement demonstrates the best of our values #RefugeesWelcome #GreaterAs1
- .@[SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE] Keep America welcoming. Refugee resettlement is a proud American legacy with bipartisan support #RefugeesWelcome #GreaterAs1
- .@[SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE] #Refugees are the most vetted group to enter US #RefugeesWelcome #GreaterAs1
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