CWS welcomes introduction of refugee reform bill

["Lesley Crosson" <lcrosson@churchworldservice.org>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Church World Service welcomes introduction of refugee reform bill

Washington -- March 15, 2011 - Global humanitarian organization Church
World Service applauds Congressman Gary C. Peters (D-Mich.) for
introducing the Domestic Refugee Reform and Modernization Act.

“This legislation is an enormous step forward in improving our
nation’s refugee resettlement program.  It will bring positive
results, not just to refugees resettled in the United States, but also
to the communities welcoming and helping refugees adjust to their new
homes,” said Erol Kekic, director of the CWS Immigration and Refugee
Program.

“The refugee resettlement program in the United States has always
enjoyed bi-partisan support in the U.S. Congress and we urge all House
members to cosponsor this bill and support its enactment.”

The Domestic Refugee Reform and Modernization Act of 2011 would elevate
the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the Department of Health and
Human Services, thereby giving the office broader authority to make
structural changes and to direct resources more effectively, while
increasing transparency and inter-agency communication.

The bill also would improve the process by which refugee resettlement
funds are allocated to states by including in the formula a projection
of refugee arrivals during the coming fiscal year in addition to figures
for the past three years of arrivals. It also calls for increased data
collection on secondary migration, health and mental health issues,
housing needs, and long-term employment outcomes, as well as a
Government Accountability Office report on the resettlement program
overall.

“In this time of economic hardship and budget constraints,
efficiency-enhancing reforms like these are essential to carrying out
the federal government’s responsibility to refugees and to the
communities receiving them," said Kekic.

“These reforms to the refugee resettlement program are long overdue,
and we commend Rep. Peters for his leadership in efforts to enhance the
efficiency and success of the program.  Every year, the United States
welcomes refugees who have fled their homelands because of fear of
persecution, terror, violence and even death.  This bill would put the
U.S. in a better position to adequately welcome them and help them on
their path to integration and success in their new home.”

CWS is one of the ten voluntary agencies working with the Department of
State to resettle refugees in the U.S.

Media Contact
Lesley Crosson, (212) 870-2676, media@churchworldservice.org 
Jan Dragin, (781) 925-1526m jdragin@gis.net 

Church World Service
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