Share this toolkit with your network: http://bit.ly/ToolkitHR8046
@interfaithimm • Facebook • interfaithimmigration.org
Background
Refugees and immigrants are beloved members of our communities and vital to their prosperity. However, many immigrants and refugees remain unable to fully contribute their talents to the workforce because of systemic barriers, including the lack of recognition of their international education and experience, outdated occupational and professional re-credentialing processes, and insufficient access to meaningful workforce development and adult education services.
The underutilization of immigrant and refugee talent has devastating effects on individuals, local communities, and the U.S. economy. As the U.S. recovers and rebuilds, the need to integrate talented immigrants and refugees into the workforce is increasingly urgent. That is why we’re advocating for the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act (H.R.8046), bipartisan legislation that would direct the U.S. Department of Labor to study the factors that lead to the underemployment and unemployment of immigrants and refugees who hold professional credentials earned outside the United States.Members of Congress need to hear that their constituents support refugee and immigrant integration and want a more equitable, inclusive economy as we work to fight COVID-19 and safely re-open our economy.
JOIN US: TOP 2 WAYS TO TAKE ACTION
- Contact Your U.S. Representative: Click here to email your Representative and urge him or her to co-sponsor the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act.
- Amplify on Social Media: Share messages on social media in support of integration of our immigrant and refugee neighbors. Sample social and graphics are available below.
STEP ONE: Urge your U.S. Representative to cosponsor bipartisan legislation that facilitates refugee and immigrant integration. Click here to contact your Representative.
Sample Email: “I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN], and (as a person of faith), I urge you to cosponsor H.R.8046, the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act, to facilitate refugee and immigrant integration. The bipartisan legislation would direct the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to study the factors that lead to the underemployment and unemployment of immigrants and refugees who hold professional credentials earned outside the United States. Refugees and immigrants are vital to the prosperity of our communities. My community welcomes immigrants and refugees, and I urge you to do the same.”
STEP TWO: Raise awareness and encourage advocacy. Share this toolkit (http://bit.ly/ToolkitHR8046), these sample posts, and these graphics:
Tweet 1 – Refugees and immigrants are beloved members of our communities, yet many remain unable to fully contribute to the workforce. The bipartisan Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act could help change that. Learn more + advocate for #HR8046 here: http://bit.ly/HR8046Toolkit
Tweet 2 – The need to integrate talented immigrants and refugees into the workforce is increasingly urgent as the U.S. recovers from #COVID19. That’s why we’re/i’m advocating for #HR8046, the bipartisan Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act. Join us/me ➡️ http://bit.ly/ToolkitHR8046
Tweet 3 – Organizations! Sign on to this letter voicing your support for the bipartisan Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act, which will help create a more equitable and inclusive economy for refugees and immigrants: http://bit.ly/IICHR8046 #HR8046
Tweet 4 – Too many of our immigrant and refugee neighbors aren’t able to fully contribute to the workforce because their international education, experience, or credentials aren’t recognized. #HR8046 is a bipartisan bill that can help. Advocate for it today: http://bit.ly/RefugeeAndImmigrantIntegrationAlert
Tweet 5 – Around 2 million college-educated, work-authorized immigrants and refugees are either unemployed or underemployed in the U.S. For our communities to thrive, we must advocate for a more equitable and inclusive economy: http://bit.ly/RefugeeAndImmigrantIntegrationAlert
Tweet 6 – The underutilization of immigrant and refugee talent has devastating effects on individuals, local communities, and the economy. Urge your Representative to cosponsor #HR8046, which will help create a more equitable, inclusive economy: http://bit.ly/RefugeeAndImmigrantIntegrationAlert
Thread:
Tweet 1
“When I arrived in the U.S., I hoped to continue my work as a physician. But with a family to provide for, I couldn’t afford to jump into the long, expensive process to repeat my education.” Dr. Ahmad, an immigrant from Afghanistan
https://www.virginiamercury.com/2020/07/06/dont-leave-qualified-immigrant-health-professionals-on-the-sidelines/
Tweet 2
Dr. Ahmad is one of millions of talented immigrants who are barred from contributing to the workforce because their credentials aren’t recognized in the U.S. Urge your Representative to cosponsor the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act to help immigrants like him: http://bit.ly/RefugeeAndImmigrantIntegrationAlert
Tweet at Your Representative
Tweet at your Representative with these sample posts and graphics:
Tweet 1 – .@Representative As a person of faith, I urge you to cosponsor #HR8046, the bipartisan Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act, which will help create a more welcoming and inclusive economy for the refugee and immigrant members of our community.
Tweet 2 – For our economy to thrive, everyone must be able to contribute their unique gifts and skills. @Representative, please cosponsor #HR8046, bipartisan legislation which will help remove the barriers that refugees and immigrants face to fully participating in the workforce.
Tweet 3 – Underutilization of the talent of refugees and immigrants costs us $10.2 billion in lost federal, state, and local taxes. It also keeps urgently-needed skills and experience out of our workforce. @Representative, please be part of the solution by cosponsoring #HR8046 now!