July 31, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 136 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page H4194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CELEBRATING LIBERIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY

  (Ms. SCANLON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Liberian 
community and to bring attention to an issue that Liberian refugees are 
experiencing in my district and across the country.
  In December 2019, as part of the NDAA, we passed the Liberian Refugee 
Immigration Fairness Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship 
to 10,000 Liberians who have resided in this country legally for years, 
with a 1-year window to accomplish this.
  However, between administrative delays in publishing the rules to 
obtain this relief, and pandemic closures, 8 months have passed without 
a single application being processed.
  The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing with USCIS this week to 
find out why, and we did not receive answers. We are a nation of 
immigrants, immigrants who enrich our communities and represent exactly 
what makes our country great.
  I am proud to represent one of the largest Liberian-American 
communities in our country and just this weekend was honored to 
celebrate Liberian Independence Day with them.

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