Schakowsky Celebrates World Refugee Day
EVANSTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chairwoman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement recognizing World Refugee Day:
"Today, we celebrate World Refugee Day, a day for the international community to recognize the perseverance and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home countries.
"I am encouraged by the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to honor our nation's rich history of humanitarian protection and refugee resettlement. By expanding the annual refugee admissions cap to 125,000, the administration is following through on its commitment to assist refugees. However, raising the cap is not enough. We must ensure that we welcome the full 125,000 refugees into the U.S. With at least 21.3 million refugees around the world, and at least 89.3 million forcibly displaced people, it is the least we can do.
"As a first-generation American, I am honored to represent the 9th Congressional District - one of the most diverse districts in the nation. We have long been a welcoming community for refugees from all over the globe. At my alma mater, Sullivan High School, more than half the students are refugees or immigrants. This year, through community project funding, I was able to request over $850,000 for RefugeeOne and the Muslim Women Resource Center, two different refugee resettlement programs here in Chicago. I am hopeful that this funding will be awarded and will go a long way in helping our community support the health and wellbeing of even more refugees.
"With multiple global humanitarian crises and an ongoing pandemic, the United States must reaffirm its commitment to accepting and resettling the most refugees possible. Refugee resettlement not only helps ensure a more stable and democratic world, but it also enriches our culture, communities, and economy. And above all, it is the right thing to do. I will continue working to ensure the United States remains a beacon of refuge."
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