Sinema, bipartisan group of lawmakers call for continued increased Emergency Food and Shelter Program funding
Sinema previously helped secure $110 million for border communities through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema called on Congressional leaders to ensure Emergency Food and Shelter Program funding is included in annual spending bills for border communities on the front lines of the migrant crisis.
“Arizona’s border communities and non-profits serve on the front lines of the migrant crisis, and the federal government must step up and secure the border, keep Arizona communities secure, and treat migrants fairly and humanely,” said Sinema, Chair of the Senate Government Operations and Border Management Subcommittee.
As Chair of the Senate Government Operations and Border Management Subcommittee, Sinema is working directly with federal agencies and leaders in Arizona to ensure the administration takes meaningful steps to support Arizona’s border communities and NGOs, secure the border, prevent the spread of COVID-19, and treat all migrants and unaccompanied children fairly and humanely. Sinema worked to include $110 million in funding in the American Rescue Package that is now law for border communities and non-profits stepping up to help manage the migrant crisis. The resources directly help border communities address the situation at the border, including to stop the spread of COVID-19, protect Arizonans, and ensure migrants are treated fairly and humanely. When Sinema became Chair of her Border Management Subcommittee, her first hearing focused on the contribution and challenges experienced by non-governmental organizations operating at the border.
Sinema recently sponsored and led passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law, which includes $152.4 million to fund the second half of the San Luis Port of Entry upgrade project, as well as $237.6 million for a new commercial land port of entry in Douglas and $202.5 million for modernization of all existing structures and expanding processing capacity at the existing Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry.
Last year, Sinema partnered with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) to introduce their Bipartisan Border Solutions Act—legislation that improves the federal government’s response to the border crisis, reduces the impact on local border communities and ensures migrants are treated fairly and humanely.
Click HERE to read the letter.