VOTE: NO – Died in Committee
Status (overview) of bill:https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Measures/Overview/HB4159
This bill is being declared as an emergency, creates a pilot program to provide immediate support services to newcomers arriving in Oregon with little to no resources. Recent closure of the Welcome Center [also referred to as the Hugo by Fortify Holdings], led to the rehousing of 300 migrant households. The Welcome Center was established as an initial humanitarian response. The pilot is aimed at long-term, sustainable, and cost-effective way to continue serving families arriving in Oregon in need.
The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement with the support of the Oregon Department of Human Services would coordinate and contract with community-based organizations to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate support services including:
● Streamlined intake, initial reception and case management.
● Short-term wraparound support including shelter, food, clothing, health care and transportation.
● Long-term support related to housing, education, employment, leadership development and technology.
● HB 4159 also creates an advisory committee to serve as a forum for sharing information and provide feedback to the organizations contracted to provide services based on annual audits and surveys. By creating a robust infrastructure to welcome newcomers, we would be prepared for an influx rather than be reactive to flows of migration.
Sponsor Rep. Hoa Nguyen says, “It is my hope that through this pilot program, Oregon will be poised and ready to receive federal funding if the federal government chooses to intervene and support newcomers. This is how we build up Oregon’s workforce and allow our newest Oregonians to integrate in our state.”
Oregon can provide assistance without making it an industry for taxpayers to support. This is Oregon not just putting out the welcome mat for illegals but to bring them in to create more socialism programs providing long-term assistance. Along with new immigrants, it welcomes those working for cartels unless Measure 110 is repealed.
Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.
Oregon tax dollars are already being used to assist so called “refugees.” Thanks to the Democrats, Oregon is a sanctuary state and is a magnate for illegal immigrants as it is. The last thing we need is more taxpayer assistance to make it even more attractive for illegals to come here. Let the NGOS foot the bill and leave the taxpayers out of it!
Vote No on this bill. Illegal immigrants have broken the law to get into this country. We owe them nothing but a return trip home.
I am in support of legal immigration. Most of them come with some help from family, friends, churches or employers.
Legal residents and citizens who obey the law and pay their taxes are struggling to survive themselves and resent seeing their taxes go to give services to illegals that they themselves cannot afford.
We should not be a sanctuary state.
Illegal migrants broke the law to get inside the US by falsely claiming asylum. They should be deported not showered with taxpayer funded assistance. VOTE NO! stop the insanity
Immigrants are some of the hardest working people anywhere because the stakes for them are so high. These are people who are so desperate that they have left their country of origin due to hunger, violence, and political issues over which they have no control. They have been victimized over and over again, and deserve to be treated with kindness and compassion.
Having compassion doesn’t demand that we create a socialist environment for them. Many illegal immigrants are also infiltrating with the intent to change and overthrow our Republic. We already provide them with the necessities to get an education and put them on a path to citizenship.
Sure have come a long way from when an immigrant needed to have a job and a place to live before they could come to the US!
Give them fee stuff and they will come in droves.. Oh that is already happening!
Dumb and Dumber