[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 196 (Wednesday, December 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H10115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REFUGEES REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES

  (Mr. HIGGINS of New York asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, this good and generous Nation 
has a long tradition of welcoming those seeking refuge and a better 
life in America.
  America is, in fact, a nation of immigrants. For generations, 
immigrants and refugees--my ancestors included--have contributed to a 
diverse and strong Nation built on the foundation that, through hard 
work, anything is possible.
  The State Department recently announced plans to cut the very 
programs to provide refugees with the tools toward economic 
independence, self-sufficiency, and success. It is a counterproductive 
move by the administration that cites the economy as a priority.
  Refugees are helping to revitalize older communities like the 
Buffalo-Niagara region, increasing our population, contributing to a 
dedicated workforce, and bringing new quality of life and economic life 
back to neighborhoods like Buffalo's west side.
  We are calling on Secretary Pompeo to immediately reverse any plans 
to cut resettlement agencies and reaffirm this Nation's commitment to 
the American Dream.

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