Media Advisory
June 20, 2019
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, REFUGEES, AND FAITH LEADERS SPEAK ON WORLD REFUGEE DAY
Press conference will highlight bipartisan support for restoring U.S. leadership in refugee protection and the refugee resettlement program
Washington, D.C. (June 20, 2019) – In commemoration of World Refugee Day, Members of Congress will join refugees and faith leaders on Capitol Hill on Thursday, June 20th at an event in the Kennedy Caucus Room hosted by Senator Brian Schatz. Speakers will celebrate the contributions refugees make to communities, the strategic importance of refugee resettlement to the United States, and draw attention to the administration’s drastic 75% cut to refugee admissions over the past two years.
Refugee leaders participating in the event are calling on Congress to restore the refugee resettlement program and America’s moral leadership to address the global displacement crisis by supporting the bicameral resolutions commemorating World Refugee Day, the GRACE Act, and the NO BAN Act – which together would restore the resettlement program to historic norms, honor refugees’ resilience and strength, and ensure that no one is banned from this country based on their faith tradition or country of origin.
WHAT: World Refugee Day Capitol Hill Press Conference Calling for Renewal of American Leadership on Refugee Protection
WHO:
- Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI)
- Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO-2)
- Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-03)
- Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA-33), Invited
- Ambassador Richard Holwill, former U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador
- Margaret Huang, Executive Director, Amnesty International USA
- Nasser Alsaadun – Former refugee from Iraq
- Salemu Alimasi – Former refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo
- Maria Murerwa – Former refugee from Tanzania
- Imam Yusuf Saleem, Masjid Muhammad, The Nation’s Mosque
- Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, Adat Shalom
- Rev. Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea, Director, Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries
WHEN: 2:30 PM EDT on Thursday, June 20th, 2019
WHERE: Kennedy Caucus Room, 325 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC
Visuals: Photo display of resettled refugees, signs saying “refugees welcome”,
Co-sponsors: Oxfam, Refugee Council USA, CWS, LIRS, Amnesty International USA, USCRI, Human Rights First, Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees, National Immigration Law Center, Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries, The United Church of Christ, Sisters of the Holy Family, World Relief, African American Ministers in Action, International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), National Council of Jewish Women, Poligon Education Fund, HIAS, Islamic Society of North America, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Since 1946, Church World Service has supported refugees, immigrants and other displaced individuals, in addition to providing sustainable relief and development solutions to communities that wrestle with hunger and poverty. Learn more about our refugee and immigrant work at GreaterAs1.org.
CONTACT: media@cwsglobal.org | 202-750-0960
