2022 -- H 8242

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LC005868

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

THANKING AND COMMENDING THE AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND GENEROUS

RHODE ISLANDERS WHO ARE ASSISTING THE HUMANITARIAN AFGHAN RELIEF

EFFORTS IN RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, McEntee, Tanzi,
Ajello, Shallcross Smith, and Cortvriend

     Date Introduced: May 11, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has left thousands of civilians dead

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and hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes, with families, communities, and livelihoods

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in constant peril; and

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     WHEREAS, Globally, humanitarian assistance began in an effort to provide for the wave

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of internal displacement and evacuations as Afghan people with no access to safe water, shelter,

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or food, sought safety for themselves and their families; and

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     WHEREAS, In October of 2021, Rhode Island welcomed its first family of Afghan

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refugees and continued preparations in anticipation of the need to resettle approximately 250

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evacuees; and

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     WHEREAS, A growing list of agencies and organizations have contributed to these

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altruistic efforts including Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, Catholic Social Services

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through the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, and the Rhode Island Foundation, who in

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partnership with the Governor's Office, established Afghan Relief RI to help meet the most urgent

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needs of newly-arrived evacuees; and

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     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Foundation has raised nearly $1.5 million to provide for

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Afghan evacuees via the Refugee Relief Fund which is distributed to the resettlement agencies,

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Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island and Catholic Social Services, to provide housing,

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food and transportation; and

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     WHEREAS, This year, in addition to its extraordinary efforts on behalf of Afghan

 

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evacuees, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island is marking one hundred years of work

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"to empower the most vulnerable among us through wraparound programs and services helping

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those in need overcome educational, cultural, economic, and language barriers" with its

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Centennial Celebration; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition, the Governor's Office and the Rhode Island Department of

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Human Services is working to support the efforts of local individuals and groups such as Task

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Force Kingston who have assisted the Jelani Family and Task Force Wickford who have been

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working with the Noori Family and have volunteered myriad time and effort to helping these

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families; and

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     WHEREAS, To date, Rhode Island's collaborative efforts have helped to welcome,

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resettle, and support over 300 Afghan refugees; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

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thanks the agencies, organizations, and generous Rhode Islanders who have and continue to assist

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the humanitarian Afghan relief efforts in our State; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Kathy Cloutier, Executive Director, Dorcas

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International Institute of Rhode Island, James Jahnz, Catholic Charities and Social Ministry, Neil

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Steinberg, Director of the Rhode Island Foundation, Task Force Kingston, and Task Force

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Wickford.

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LC005868

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