Speech #1010107949

Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to offer my congratulations to the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service [LIRS]. the national agency of Lutheran churches in the United States. on its 50th anniversary. As chairman of the House Subcommittee on Immigration. Refugees and International Law. it gives me particular pleasure to note that LIRS has resettled more than 155.000 refugees since 1939 through partnership with Lutheran social ministry organizations. congregations. and community people. More than 6.000 congregational sponsors were mobilized to foster the wellbeing and sufficiency of refugees and their integration into American life. As one of just two national voluntary agencies that resettles unaccompanied minors. LIRS placed more than 3.000 unaccompanied refugee children in foster care since 1978. Along with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [ELCA] and the Lutheran World Federation World Service. LIRS works with undocumented people in the United States by supporting 42 social service. advocacy and legal service communitybased projects. LIRS also helped organize an ecumenical delegation to Washington to make clear that the administration policy of massive detention and lack of due process for Central Americans was In need of change. LIRS Is especially to be commended for its efforts in organizing assistance for children who are being kept In detention centers because of their lack of legal status in this country. Finally I wish to commend LIRS for its cosponsorship of the conference held this September in Washington on the subject of Haitian and African refugees. It was my pleasure to address that conference and to know. firsthand. of the fine work It accomplished. I salute the LIRS on Its 50th anniversary. and look forward to continuing to work with