[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 17, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        TRIBUTE TO CHRIS GEORGE

 Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam President, I rise today to recognize my 
friend and fellow Connecticut resident, Chris George, on the occasion 
of his retirement from Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services--IRIS--
after 18 years of remarkable leadership in resettling individuals and 
families seeking to build a new life in our country.
  In 2005, Chris joined the organization that would later be known as 
IRIS, which operated out of a small office in New Haven with an eight-
person staff. Over the following 18 years, Chris guided an enormous 
expansion of the organization, with 150 employees now helping to 
resettle 1,000 people per year across Connecticut. During Chris' 
tenure, IRIS has been at the center of Connecticut's response to 
refugees and other immigrants fleeing from persecution and violence, 
working with those displaced from Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, the 
Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine, and many other places worldwide. 
Chris and IRIS performed lifesaving work to accommodate refugees, 
especially through the expansion of their community cosponsorship 
program.
  The success of IRIS under Chris' leadership has made New Haven and 
Connecticut national leaders in refugee resettlement. In January 2023, 
the organization was selected by the U.S. Department of State as one of 
five agencies to lead a consortium of nonprofit organizations as a part 
of the launch of the Welcome Corps program. In this role, IRIS is 
responsible for coordinating and managing the newly created Welcome 
Corps program infrastructure, which includes vetting, certifying, and 
training private sponsors, as well as monitoring and evaluating the 
overall success of the program.
  I have been deeply honored to work with Chris over the years and 
witness his incredible accomplishments firsthand. I will always 
remember collaborating with him closely during the evacuation of 
Americans and allies from Afghanistan in 2021. From the outset of the 
crisis, Chris worked tirelessly, oftentimes communicating with those 
trapped in Afghanistan directly in order to secure their safe 
evacuation. Chris was quick to recognize the complexities that the 
evacuation from Afghanistan presented and was able to secure 
humanitarian parole for hundreds of refugees resettling across 
Connecticut. Chris has also been a key contributor and spokesperson for 
the Afghan Adjustment Act, aiming to affirm the legal status of the 
refugees who have been able to make it to the United States. Chris and 
IRIS were critical in not only advocating for and assisting in the safe 
escape of these individuals from the Taliban, but also in helping them 
to find housing, connect with healthcare, enroll in school, find jobs, 
and learn English.
  Chris has been a fierce advocate on behalf of all fleeing oppression 
across the world, and his remarkable career is a testament to his 
diligence, leadership, and compassion. Although he is stepping down 
from IRIS, he plans to continue advocating for humanitarian causes, 
including working at the newly created Welcome Corps. I applaud Mr. 
Chris George for his incredible work and hope my colleagues will join 
me in expressing our gratitude and admiration.

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