releases: https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-leads-letter-on-eliminating-cap-on-travel-reimbursement-to-assist
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| url | title | date | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
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| 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. – 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. "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." Norton has taken other steps to address the issue, including: Planned 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. Met with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to discuss the issue. Ongoing work with groups assisting the migrants, the General Services Administration, and FEMA to find space for the groups. The letter follows. August 11, 2022 National Board Emergency Food and Shelter Program 701 N. Fairfax St. Alexandria, VA 22314 Dear National Board: We 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. It 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. While 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. The 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. Sincerely, /s/ Eleanor Holmes Norton Member of Congress /s/ Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. Member of Congress /s/ Tony Cárdenas Member of Congress /s/ André Carson Member of Congress /s/ Veronica Escobar Member of Congress /s/ Adriano Espaillat Member of Congress /s/ Jesús G. "Chuy" García Member of Congress /s/ Raúl M. Grijalva Member of Congress /s/ Mondaire Jones Member of Congress /s/ Carolyn Maloney Member of Congress /s/ James P. McGovern Member of Congress /s/ Grace Meng Member of Congress /s/ Jerrold Nadler Member of Congress /s/ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Member of Congress /s/ Jimmy Panetta Member of Congress /s/ Linda T. Sánchez Member of Congress /s/ Juan Vargas Member of Congress /s/ Nydia M. Velázquez Member of Congress /s/ Bonnie Watson Coleman Member of Congress ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |