JANUARY 13, 2025
Those that vote to cut funding for refugee resettlement are voting to take away money from their own districts, lay off their own constituents, and close some of their state’s top-performing workforce development programs.
The 119th Congress just concluded its first full week. Here’s what it means for resettlement—and Alabama.
On January 3rd, the 119th Congress was sworn into office. And they are on deadline. On March 14th, the continuing resolution that funds governmental programming—including the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program—will expire. Congress must pass an appropriations package prior to March 14th to ensure that the government can continue operating throughout the rest of the Federal Fiscal Year, which runs through September.
Resettlement is at risk: If Congress cuts funding for the Refugee Program, local resettlement offices may face hard choices about pausing programs, laying off staff, or closing altogether.
Let’s take a look at Alabama, a Republican stronghold, where refugees are small business owners, financial coaches, aeronautical mechanics, gardeners, helpful neighbors, determined mothers, and animal lovers. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is a successful public-private partnership, with Alabamans—not the Federal Government—doing most of the work of resettlement.
Read the full article here.
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