García, Norton, Espaillat Lead Letter Requesting Extra $50 Million in Continuing Resolution for Migrants Bused to D.C., Chicago, and New York City
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) led a letter today to House appropriators requesting that the upcoming fiscal year 2023 continuing resolution (CR) provide $50 million above the enacted fiscal year 2022 level to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) for humanitarian assistance to migrants.
“Playing politics with the lives of these immigrants is dehumanizing and cruel, but not unexpected from the xenophobic, fear-mongering politics of Governor Abbot,” said Garcia. While Chicago remains committed to welcoming these new arrivals, we must ensure their food, shelter and other basic needs are covered. The arrival of these migrants at the border underscores the urgent need to address the root causes of migration and how U.S. policies have contributed to the problem. In the meantime, we must focus on assisting the women, men and children as they arrive in our cities.”
“In a cynical political stunt that has exploited both vulnerable migrants and D.C., the governors of Texas and Arizona have bused thousands of migrants to D.C., Chicago, and New York City in the last several months,” Norton said. “I introduced a bill to provide $50 million in supplemental funding for the EFSP in the current fiscal year, and we are now requesting an additional $50 million for fiscal year 2023. The funds will be used to provide humanitarian aid through the EFSP program.”
“As Texas Governor Greg Abbott continues to play political games with thousands of migrant lives, our response must be swift and robust to ensure that sanctuary cities have adequate resources to provide humanitarian assistance for displaced individuals seeking asylum here in our nation,” said Espaillat. “When thousands of migrants began to arrive to New York City, we welcomed them with open arms and connected them to viable resources. Our request for this emergency funding will be put to even greater use in helping bolster programs vital in our efforts in providing aid and assistance for the vulnerable individuals and families seeking our support at this critical moment.”
Customarily, agencies can only spend the money provided in a continuing resolution at the same rate at which the money was spent in the previous year. However, because the demand for emergency food and shelter funding has significantly increased from last year, the White House requested that FEMA be allowed to spend the money as needed.
Members who joined the letter include: Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D.(NY-16), Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Grace Meng (NY-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Marie Newman (IL-03), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Albio Sires (NJ-08), Juan Vargas (CA-51), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).
The text of the letter follows, and a signed PDF can be found here.
September 9, 2022
The Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard The Honorable Chuck Fleischmann
Chair Ranking Member
House Subcommittee on Homeland Security House Subcommittee on Homeland Security
Committee on Appropriations Committee on Appropriations
2006 Rayburn House Office Building 2006 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chair Roybal-Allard and Ranking Member Fleischmann:
As negotiations begin on the first fiscal year (FY) 2023 continuing resolution, we write to request that the bill provide $50 million above the enacted FY2022 level to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) for humanitarian assistance to migrants.
Since mid-April, the governors of Texas and Arizona have exploited and harmed approximately 10,000 vulnerable people fleeing desperate and dangerous situations in their home countries for political gain by busing them to D.C., New York City and Chicago.
The EFSP provides federal funding for food, shelter and other necessities. In FY 2022, Congress provided $150 million to this program for humanitarian assistance for migrants. As of July 21, 2022, approximately $85 million of this funding remained available. However, the busing of migrants to D.C., New York City and Chicago and resettlement in cities like Boston has increased funding requests across the Northeast and the Midwest. Without additional funding, the EFSP may exhaust its funding.
This funding would ensure that the EFSP can continue to provide humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of all migrants.
Sincerely,
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