From the Director of Public Policy & Advocacy at Lutheran Social Services of New England:
In the next few days, the US Senate Sub-Committee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Committee will focus on funding the US Refugee Resettlement programs. New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg is a member of this committee. It is imperative that as many New Hampshire residents as possible contact him about this matter AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. You can do this by either sending a message through his web site http://gregg.senate.gov, (click on "contact") or by phone (202) 224-3324. I think everyone is aware of the financial struggles associated with trying to do an adequate job of refugee resettlement. Now is the time to send a strong message to our federal policy makers that it is time to finally support this program at a reasonable level.
The "sticking point" seems to be an impression that last year's congressional appropriation was $633.4 mil, thus the President's request for $740.7 mil appears to be too large a jump. But this is NOT the case. The actual budget for refugee resettlement last year was $706.1 mil due to a carry-over from unspent funds which accumulated during a time of low numbers of arriving refugees.
Copied below is the message I recently sent to Sen. Gregg. However, use your own words when writing or calling.
"Dear Senator Gregg: I am writing to you as a citizen of New Hampshire and also as an employee of an organization which contracts with the federal government to resettle refugees in New Hampshire (Lutheran Social Services). As a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Sub-Committee, you will soon be addressing the part pertaining to the funding for “Refugee and Entrant Assistant” in the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). You need only look at a few articles in the Union Leader or Concord Monitor to realize that this program has been faced with significant challenges in New Hampshire, as it has been all over our country. The funding provided to agencies like Lutheran Social Services to accomplish this job has been grossly inadequate for many years. As a result, volunteer efforts and donated funds have been used to fill the gap. That capacity has now been mostly depleted and the local communities are becoming increasingly stressed by the need to find ways to assist these new arrivals. Accusations of “dumping refugees” are frequently seen in the press and heard on the streets. This is a federally mandated program and the federal government must provide adequate resources to do the job.
"In FYI 09, Congress allocated $633.4 mil, to which was added a carry-over of $72.7 mil for a total operating budget last year of $706.1 mil. For 2010, the President has requested $740.7 mil, a less than 5% increase. Some interpret this (INCORRECTLY) as a larger percentage increase based on the $633.4 mil congressional appropriation in 2009, leaving out the fact that $72.7 mil was then added from un-obligated prior year funds (which accrued due to fewer than budgeted refugee arrivals).
"I urge you to please advocate within the committee the need to fund Refugee Resettlement at the modest level increase requested by the President, $740.7 mil for FY 2010."
