SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s governor and legislative leaders on Friday requested $16.7 million in state cash to assist resettle Afghan refugees within the state.
The request to make use of common fund cash to assist these fleeing the Taliban takeover indicators “that California stands prepared to help these in want,” Gov. Gavin Newsom stated in an announcement. “Because the nation’s most numerous state, we don’t merely tolerate variety, we have fun it.”
The funding request by Newsom, Senate President professional Tempore Toni Atkins and Meeting Speaker Anthony Rendon was anticipated to be thought of throughout subsequent week’s legislative session.
With assist from leaders of each homes, the request is unlikely to face critical opposition within the Democrat-controlled Legislature.
The cash would supply money help and different assist for refugees who do not qualify for sure federal refugee advantages and public help applications as a result of they do not maintain particular visas however are being admitted into the US on humanitarian grounds, Newsom stated.
Political Cartoons
Some arriving refugees are probably eligible for Medi-Cal and state-funded assist however solely these arriving with youngsters are eligible for CalWORKs, the state-funded public help program.
Newsom is proposing to briefly increase the Trafficking and Crime Sufferer Help Program to cowl these assist gaps, he stated.
“These refugees gave our service members assist in Afghanistan and it is just becoming we give them hope after they come to California,” stated Atkins, a Democrat. “After I was rising up, the golden rule was that regardless of how little you had, you assist these in want. We’re blessed to be ready in California the place we have now sufficient funding to assist ease these refugees’ transition into our society.”
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This materials is probably not revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
