On April 12, 2011, Representative Peters (D-MI-9) and a bipartisan group of 20 original co-sponsors introduced the Domestic Refugee Resettlement Reform and Modernization Act of 2011, H.R. 1475. The bill represents a significant step towards ensuring better assistance to communities that welcome refugees resettled to the United States and improving the services offered to these vulnerable newcomers.
H.R. 1475 proposes much-needed reform and modernization to help improve the integration of refugees into American communities. Over the last three decades, refugee populations arriving to the United States have changed significantly. In the early 1980s, the vast majority of refugees admitted to the United States were fleeing conflicts in South Asia. Today the refugee populations are more diverse and vulnerable. Recognizing these changes, H.R.1475 would assess the well-being of refugees resettled to the United States by requiring the government to analyze the challenges refugees and communities face and the effectiveness of efforts to help refugees attain self-sufficiency, amongst other important issues. Furthermore, in order to ensure that communities and refugees receive appropriate levels of assistance, the bill would revise the way in which the federal government provides funding to states and local resettlement organizations.
Please urge your members of Congress to support efforts to improve the U.S. refugee resettlement program and better welcome vulnerable newcomers to communities across the United States by sending them a message through our Action Center.
Read the LIRS statement on the Domestic Refugee Resettlement Reform and Modernization Act of 2011, H.R. 1475 here.