Washington, DC | www.adc.org | July 19th, 2016 -The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) urges you to tell Congress to increase funding for Refugee Resettlement and vote against legislation that would cut funding.

President Obama committed to resettling 100,000 refugees in 2017. Resettlement is one of the crucial ways that the U.S. can lead by example and encourage other countries to help and resettle refugees. However, the U.S. Congress is considering bills for Fiscal Year 2017 that would drastically cut funds for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and reduce resources to serve refugees resettled in the U.S.

These proposed funding cuts would turn our backs on the 100,000 refugees we have pledged to welcome, damage integration efforts, and negatively impact communities that welcome refugees. Please call the below Representatives and Senators, who serve key leadership roles in the appropriations process, as they consider these proposals.

Example of what to say: “As we prepare to welcome 100,000 refugees in Fiscal Year 2017, it is critical that we increase funding to ensure local communities have the resources they need to help refugees integrate and thrive. The current proposed funding levels would turn our backs on the refugees we have pledged to welcome, damage integration efforts, and negatively impact communities that welcome refugees.” 

Example of what to say: “As Congress considers Fiscal Year 2017 funding, I urge you to increase funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Migration and Refugee Assistance account to support refugee assistance overseas and refugee resettlement in the United States, over and above last year’s levels. 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 Congress to increase funding for refugee protection and resettlement.”

Kentucky: House Appropriations Chair Harold Rogers (R-KY-5): (202) 225-4601 / @RepHalRogers; Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): (202) 224-2541 / @SenateMajLdr

Mississippi: Senate Appropriations Chair Thad Cochran (R-MS): (202) 224-5054 / @SenThadCochran

Missouri: Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO): (202) 224-5721 / @RoyBlunt

Oklahoma: Representative Tom Cole (R-OK-4): (202) 225-6165 / @TomColeOK04

South Carolina: Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC): (202) 224-5972 / @LindseyGrahamSC

Texas: Representative Kay Granger (R-TX-12): (202) 225-5071/ @RepKayGranger

Wisconsin: House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI-1): (202) 225-3031 / @SpeakerRyan