[Episcopal Public Policy Network] This Wednesday, March 16th, the House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee plans to mark up “The Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act” (H.R. 4731). This legislation would dismantle the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program by drastically reducing and capping the number of refugees that can be admitted to the U.S. per year, allowing states and local governments to prevent refugee resettlement in their communities, and implementing unnecessary and expensive vetting measures that could indefinitely delay admission to vulnerable refugees.

Today, we are facing a global refugee crisis with more than 60 million people displaced from their homes. Some 20 million of the displaced are refugees. Refugee resettlement is considered for the most vulnerable refugees who cannot return home and cannot safely integrate in a nearby country. This legislation would punish the refugees who are among the most vulnerable in the world and who already meet all the rigorous requirements to be resettled in the United States.

H.R. 4731 goes against our nation’s values of providing opportunity and freedom for all people. Episcopal Migration Ministries, the refugee resettlement agency of The Episcopal Church, works to provide opportunity and safety to over 5,000 refugees through resettlement in the U.S. each year. This life-saving and life-giving program embodies our Christian values of welcoming the stranger and respecting the dignity of every human being. We ask you to speak out to support this successful and valuable program.

Call members of the House Judiciary committee today to stand with refugees and express your opposition to this legislation. Go to our website here to find numbers to dial, a sample script, sample tweets, more information on this legislation, and talking points on refugee resettlement.