Background: Congress is proposing funding bills for Fiscal Year 2017 that would flatline refugee resettlement funding at last year’s levels. President Obama committed to resettling 110,000 refugees in 2017, in contrast to the 75,000 planned for in the 2016 budget. As we are facing the worst displacement crisis in recorded history, resettlement is one of the key ways that the U.S. can lead by example and encourage other countries to help refugees. It is critical that even this relatively small increase in refugee admissions is met with increased funds to ensure local communities have the resources they need to help refugees integrate and thrive.
Please call and email your local mayors, and tell them to sign on to a national letter supporting additional resources for refugee resettlement programs funded by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). ORR supports state governments, public schools, and local resettlement agencies to provide job training, English instruction, and short-term cash and medical assistance to help refugees integrate into their new communities and rebuild their lives.
Take Action TODAY: Tell Your Mayor to Support Funding for Refugee Resettlement Programs
*Note: Think about who you know that might have a connection to the Mayoral office and consider reaching out to them first.
Step 1: Send an email and be sure to attach the sign on letter. Click here to download and save the letter. Urge them again to sign on to support additional resources for ORR programs that serve refugees in our communities.
Step 2: Call your local mayors to urge them to sign on to the letter in support of additional resources for refugee resettlement.
Step 3: Ask their offices to electronically sign the letter with their official signature and email it back to you, confirming the Mayor is signing on. Please forward that email confirmation with the signed letter to Meredith Owen at mowen@cwsglobal.org.
Here’s a sample of what to say: “As a person of faith, I’m concerned that Congress is not increasing funds for refugees in Fiscal Year 2017. I’m calling today to urge the Mayor to sign on to a national letter supporting additional resources for the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The sign on letter calls on Congress to ensure ORR can provide our community the support we need to serve refugees and other vulnerable populations. Resettlement is one of the ways the U.S. can lead by example and leverage international support for refugees. My community welcomes refugees, and I urge the Mayor to sign this letter.”
Please spread the word and send this alert to your networks! Click here to download this action alert to adapt and circulate. Feel free to email mowen@cwsglobal.org with any questions.