IL. I had the opportunity to meet Mrs. Weiss recently when she received the Salt of the Earth Award from the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS] at its recent Washington. DC. conference. This award. also bestowed upon three others. was designed to recognize her for "exceptional commitment and countless deeds of love in ministry with uprooted people." Mr. President. even before my service on the Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Affairs. I came to know and respect the important efforts and accomplishments of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. It is a cooperative agency of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. and Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod. LIRS has provided invaluable assistance to refugees. asylumseekers. undocumented persons. and immigrants since 1939. Its work is of critical importance today. If our Nation is to continue to meet its historic commitment to aid those fleeing persecution. we need the resolve and forthrightness of the LIRS and other religious and voluntary organizations that aid refugees. LIRS services include advocacy. resettlement in communities across the United States. placement of unaccompanied refugee children in foster homes. assistance with local asylum projects. and counseling in immigration. It is one of many very important volunteer organizations in this country helping refugees to settle quickly in local communities and to begin supporting themselves and their families. Mrs. Weiss has worked with LIRS in Illinois for 17 years and has assisted in the resettlement of over 300 refugee families in our State. I commend her years of service and ask that the LIRS Bulletin statement recognizing Mrs. Weiss achievements be included in the RECORD immediately following my remarks.
Keywords matched
Immigration Refugee immigration immigrants undocumented refugees refugee