The COVID-19 pandemic compounded the legal problems of many low-income Nebraskans, including refugees, vulnerable immigrant children, immigrant victims of domestic violence, trafficking survivors, and legal permanent residents.
These civil legal problems include:
-Households struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
-Vulnerable Nebraska children and families
facing growing violence and abuse
-Parents unable to access critically important
income and health care benefits
LB 1141 would invest $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds into existing grants to non-profits to provide civil legal help to vulnerable Nebraskans in every county impacted by the pandemic.
LB968 would appropriate $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support workforce housing, and job training and placement services for refugee and immigrant workers.
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened rural workforce shortages and increased housing prices. Nebraska’s immigrant and refugee workforce continue to make important contributions from meatpacking plants to tech companies.
LB968 will help our immigrant workforce reach their full potential, while staying in the communities that need them.
Dear Senator_______,
My name is [your name] and I live in [city], in your district. I support including LB1141, the bill to invest ARPA federal pandemic relief funding in expanding civil legal assistance for hard-hit low-income Nebraska families and households. I also support LB968, the bill to utilize ARPA funding workforce housing, job training, and job placement services for Nebraska’s refugee and immigrant workers.
[Share your reasons and any personal experiences with this issue for each bill.] Because LB1141 and LB968 meet the ongoing pandemic needs that ARPA was targeted to help, I urge the Appropriations Committee to include the spending priorities of LB1141 and LB968 in its ARPA priority bill.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
(Your name and address)
