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House Appropriations Committee member Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Bill that would boost funding for shelters and other services in Maine and across the country. In the Subcommittee’s markup on Wednesday, Pingree urged fellow appropriators to support her amendment, calling attention to the housing crisis in Portland and urgent need to help the city, surrounding towns, and nonprofit groups access the resources they need to help asylum seekers. 

“You may not realize this, but Portland, Maine is actually a major destination for asylum seekers entering this country,” Pingree said. “And that’s been a great thing—Maine has an aging population and we need people to move to our state, and I’m proud to have these new neighbors who are so eager to contribute to their new home. Unfortunately, the situation has been exacerbated by the pandemic and housing shortages and more resources are needed to support a growing asylum seeker population and the neighbors who have welcomed them.”

“I just want to reiterate, in 2023 we allocated $800 million—this bill allocates zero,” Pingree said. “[…] We also have a prohibition on work permits. So, these are people who are legally in my state. We are anxious to have contribute to our state, but they can't go to work. They have to be on general assistance. They have to live in shelters. Most states like yours, would not be prepared for the influx that we have. We are very excited to have them. We just need the support to make sure that we can keep them there until they are legally able to go to work. They are legally in our country. I hope you will see the error of your ways in zeroing out this account and at least allocate $200 million to support those communities that are supporting the people coming to our country.” 

Pingree’s amendment would transfer $200 million from border wall funding under U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Shelter and Services Program (SSP). It adds report language directing CBP to provide data to FEMA to help inform decisions on where funding should be provided. The data will include historical data and future projections of encounters of families and single adults by Ports of Entry and Border Patrol. Additionally, it directs FEMA to ensure the Appropriations Committee receives data from SSP grantees on the use of funds. 

Click here to watch the Subcommittee’s full markup. 

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