2025 -- H 6015

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LC001237

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $250,000 TO THE REFUGEE DREAM CENTER (RDC),

$250,000 TO HIGHER GROUND INTERNATIONAL, AND $250,000 TO DORCAS

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Biah, Potter, Stewart, Batista, DeSimone,
Slater, Handy, Tanzi, and Furtado

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2025

     Referred To: House Finance

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     WHEREAS, The Refugee Dream Center (RDC), located in the City of Providence, is a

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nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded by Dr. Omar Bah in 2015, with a primary focus on resettlement and

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assistance with the challenges faced by refugees when they come to the United States; and

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     WHEREAS, The RDC “offers assistance in finding employment, education, and housing,

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while also providing essential skills and knowledge such as navigating the U.S. healthcare

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system, improving English language proficiency, and guiding individuals on the path to

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citizenship”; and

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     WHEREAS, Higher Ground International and Dorcas International Institute of Rhode

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Island are nonprofit organizations dedicated to assisting refugees and other marginalized

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communities with refugee resettlement operations; and

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     WHEREAS, Under newly signed executive orders, the State Department’s refugee

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program is now suspended and the RDC, Higher Ground International, and Dorcas International

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Institute of Rhode Island have lost federal funding and staff; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of money in the treasury not

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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2025-2026, the sum of two hundred fifty thousand

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dollars ($250,000) to the Refugee Dream Center (RDC), two hundred fifty thousand dollars

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($250,000) to Higher Ground International, and two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) to

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Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island; and the state controller is hereby authorized and

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directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much

 

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thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $250,000 TO THE REFUGEE DREAM CENTER (RDC),

$250,000 TO HIGHER GROUND INTERNATIONAL, AND $250,000 TO DORCAS

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RHODE ISLAND

***

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $250,000 to the Refugee

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Dream Center (RDC), $250,000 to Higher Ground International, and $250,000 to Dorcas

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International Institute of Rhode Island.

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