Iraq War, refugees, and America's veterans.
Aiding Iraqi Refugees
Since the invasion the war in Iraq has created the world’s fastest growing refugee and displaced populations. Since 2006 the United States has only 535 Iraqi applications for asylum, only 5% the number Sweden has accepted in the same time.
Blumenauer believes we a responsibility to all innocent Iraqis who are suffering as a result of the war, he believes that we bear a particular responsibility to those who are being targeted because they helped the United States. Many well-meaning Iraqis who either served as a translator for the U.S. military or worked for a humanitarian organization have been made the targets of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Sunni insurgents, or Shiite militias. These are the reason Earl introduced the first full legislation to address this deepening crisis.
The “Responsibility to Iraqi Refugees Act" requires specific assistance to Iraqi refugees and the countries that are hosting them, made it easier for vulnerable Iraqis to come to the United States, and set up a special program to assist Iraqis who helped American efforts. Many of these provisions were signed into law in January 2008 as part of the larger National Defense Authorization Act.
Read the Iraqi's full story here and then see what Earl has done for U.S. Veterans here.
In almost four decades of public service, Earl Blumenauer's innovative accomplishments in transportation, planning, environmental programs and public participation have helped Portland, Oregon earn an international reputation as one of America's most livable cities.