Advocacy Update
May 2005

National Day of Action in Support of Federal Funding for Refugees Set for June 1
By Lynette Engelhardt Stott, LIRS Director for Legislative Affairs

On June 1 LIRS and other members of Refugee Council USA are asking our networks to join forces to advocate on behalf of federal funding for the world’s refugees. We’ve chosen this day for coordinated local actions because Congress will not be in session due to the Memorial Day recess. Many members of Congress will be at home in their districts and therefore may be available to meet with constituents. We hope you will join us on June 1 and urge your members of Congress to fully fund programs for refugees at home and abroad.

It is imperative that we call upon Congress to provide increased federal funding so that the United States continues to be a leader in the response to the world’s refugee crisis. Increased funding is necessary to avoid shortfalls that would negatively impact the Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA), Emergency Refugee and Migration (ERMA), and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) accounts. These accounts provide the federal funding for refugee assistance including admissions, resettlement and overseas protection.

Increased funding for refugee protection is essential to avoid massive shortfalls in food, medicine and other vital supplies that continue to affect refugees across Africa and elsewhere. It would also support the work of international relief organizations—including our partner Lutheran World Relief—that are providing humanitarian assistance and protecting refugees from further harm.

And increased federal funding would ensure that thousands more refugees are resettled in the United States and given the protection they so desperately need. It would also increase funding for transitional assistance to resettled refugees, including the matching grant program, social services and other community integration projects.

Each year we estimate the amounts needed for MRA, ERMA and ORR, and then urge Congress and the president to fund the accounts at these amounts. For fiscal year 2006 LIRS is calling for

• at least $983 million for MRA,
• at least $50 million for ERMA, and
• and at least $667 million ORR.

The United States must expand our nation’s ability to aid the millions of refugees overseas and to increase the number of refugees offered protection through resettlement in the United States. Please join with us on June 1 in urging Congress to do just that! Consider seeking a meeting with your members of Congress on that day, sending a letter in support of increased refugee funding or calling your members’ D.C. offices.

Read past Advocacy/Washington Updates.