{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-leads-letter-on-eliminating-cap-on-travel-reimbursement-to-assist", "Norton Leads Letter on Eliminating Cap on Travel Reimbursement to Assist Migrants Bused to D.C.", "2022-08-11", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Holmes Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", "norton", "https://norton.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) led a letter signed by 18 other members of Congress today to the National Board of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) requesting it eliminate the cap on reimbursement for long-distance travel, which has prevented many migrants being bused to D.C. from Texas and Arizona from reaching their final destinations.\n\n\"In a cynical political stunt which has exploited both vulnerable migrants and D.C., the governors of Texas and Arizona have bused thousands of migrants to the District in the last several months,\" Norton said. \"Eighty-five percent of these migrants intend to travel to a final destination other than D.C., but the EFSP's cap on reimbursements for long-distance travel has prevented them from reaching those destinations, where many have family and support systems. Because I anticipate that Texas and Arizona will continue this indefinitely, I am requesting a permanent elimination of the cap.\"\n\nNorton has taken other steps to address the issue, including:\n\nPlanned introduction of an emergency appropriations bill designated for humanitarian assistance to migrants, including those being bused into the District of Columbia by Texas and Arizona.\n\nMet with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to discuss the issue.\n\nOngoing work with groups assisting the migrants, the General Services Administration, and FEMA to find space for the groups.\n\nThe letter follows.\n\nAugust 11, 2022\n\nNational Board\n\nEmergency Food and Shelter Program\n\n701 N. Fairfax St.\n\nAlexandria, VA 22314\n\nDear National Board:\n\nWe write to urge you to eliminate the Emergency Food and Shelter Program's (EFSP) cap on reimbursement for long-distance travel. This cap has prevented many migrants from reaching their final destinations.\n\nIt is our understanding that 85 percent of migrants who have been bused to the District of Columbia from Texas and Arizona intend to travel to a final destination other than D.C. The EFSP requirement that prohibits the use of funds for long-distance travel for more than 30 percent of migrants served has made it difficult for migrants to reach their final destination after their arrival in D.C.\n\nWhile we applaud the National Board's July 22, 2022, decision to increase the travel cap to 50 percent of migrants served for 30 days, we are concerned that the percentage is still too low and the duration is too short. We anticipate that Texas and Arizona will continue to bus migrants to D.C. indefinitely. We ask that you permanently eliminate the cap.\n\nThe governors of Texas and Arizona are exploiting and harming vulnerable people who are fleeing desperate and dangerous situations in their home countries for political gain.\n\nSincerely,\n\n/s/\n\nEleanor Holmes Norton\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nJamaal Bowman, Ed.D.\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nTony C\u00e1rdenas\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nAndr\u00e9 Carson\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nVeronica Escobar\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nAdriano Espaillat\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nJes\u00fas G. \"Chuy\" Garc\u00eda\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nRa\u00fal M. Grijalva\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nMondaire Jones\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nCarolyn Maloney\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nJames P. McGovern\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nGrace Meng\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nJerrold Nadler\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nJimmy Panetta\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nLinda T. S\u00e1nchez\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nJuan Vargas\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nNydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez\n\nMember of Congress\n\n/s/\n\nBonnie Watson Coleman\n\nMember of Congress\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-leads-letter-on-eliminating-cap-on-travel-reimbursement-to-assist"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9113550186157227, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}