Congressman Cuellar Provides Update on the $30 Million for Humanitarian Reimbursements to Local Governments and Non-Governmental Organizations in Laredo
Written by admin, Jul 24, 2019, 0 Comments
Courtesy Charlotte Laracy,
Funding will provide reimbursements for expenses related to humanitarian relief of unaccompanied children and family units at the southern border
LAREDO, TX – Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) provided an update on the $30 million he helped secure in conjunction with U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) for humanitarian reimbursements to local governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Texas, including Laredo. This funding will reimburse organizations that have incurred massive costs for providing humanitarian relief for children and families seeking asylum at the border. Congressman Cuellar and Senator Cornyn helped secure this funding in the FY19 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill that was signed into law earlier this summer.
“Since 2014, when the surge in migrants began, our community has come together and provided millions of dollars for food, water, and shelter to the hundreds of migrants at our southern border. However, the costs for providing humanitarian assistance can be crushing for organizations such as Catholic Charities of Laredo and the Holding Institute,” said Congressman Cuellar. “I have helped secure the urgently-needed funding for Texas communities. Local government and organizations are on the front-lines of this humanitarian crisis. That’s why I’ve worked hard to secure the $30 million in the FY 2019 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill to ensure that our local communities receive the reimbursements they deserve.”
He continued, “I thank these organizations for their dedicated assistance and service at our southern border. I will continue to work to allocate more funding and resources to our local organizations, so they are able to continue to assist the migrant children and families at the border.”
“The federal government must take financial responsibility for migrant care,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Texas communities have gone above and beyond, expending resources to provide shelter and food for migrants in need. With federal reimbursement money Rep. Cuellar and I fought to include in this bill, Texas cities and non-profits will be able to return their focus to serving the community the way they know best.”
Sen. Cornyn urged Senate appropriators to include these funds in the bill after hearing from many local Texas officials and non-profits that had spent significant resources on migrant care due to increased border crossings in recent months.
