Christopher Coen
Melissa Sogard
nancylee1
4-5-11, USCRI letter to supporters re fy2011 funding
March 5, 2011
Dear ______,
Thank you for standing with refugees! Because of your actions, the Senate refused
to support the House bill which imposed substantial cuts on overseas and domestic refugee programs. USCRI has been told by Senate staffers that your letters, calls, and emails had a positive impact on Senators’ decisions not to reduce refugee program support. So let’s keep the momentum going as Congress spends this week
negotiating a fiscal year 2011 budget.
Current Situation
The Senate failed to pass either the extreme House bill or a Senate bill which did not decrease refugee funding. Instead, the Congress passed a short-term continuing resolution funding the federal government at FY 10 levels which expires on this Friday, April 8th.
Next Steps
This week is pivotal. Our voices need to be heard once more because there are so many competing issues and repetition is key. As Senators continue the process of deciding what to cut and what to fund, we want to make sure they do not hurt refugees. So, please do exactly what you did before and make calls, send an email, and visit your elected officials’ local office. Below you’ll find contact information and a sample script. Our message is the same: fund the following accounts at their fiscal year 2010 enacted levels:
- Migration and Refugee Assistance Account (MRA)
- Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)
- International Disaster Assistance (IDA)
- Citizenship and Integration
Program within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Thank you again for standing
with refugees!
Sincerely,
Lavinia Limon
President & CEO
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
