Oregon Senate President Pro-Tempore James Manning Jr. (D-Eugene) introduced SB 935 to provide support to the thousands of Ukrainian war refugees now in Oregon. “Refugee from Ukraine” is defined as an individual from Ukraine who is displaced as a result of the armed conflict in Ukraine and granted refugee status for admission to the United States by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

His bill comes at the same time as the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Refugee Program is inviting community partners to apply for a portion of $4.6 million available to provide services and support to certain individuals from Ukraine or those who entered through the Uniting for Ukraine program. The ODHS Refugee Program provides cash, medical, employment and acculturation services to refugees.

More than 4,500 Ukrainian refugees are currently in Oregon out of 180,000 in the U.S., according to the Uniting for Ukraine program. SB 935 is based on input from the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organizations (IRCO), and will remove two substantial barriers that Ukrainian refugees face during resettlement in Oregon.

• Housing - the new legislation will ensure Ukrainian refugees who do not have an Oregon cosigner can still apply for, and receive, rental housing in Oregon.
• Transportation - waives the written and driving test for Ukrainian refugees applying for a driver’s license – as well as the accompanying fees – provided the applicant holds a valid Ukrainian driver’s license.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

“By removing these obstacles to basic needs, Oregon can ease Ukrainian refugees’ transition to life in Oregon at this unimaginably stressful time,” said Senator Manning. “It is our responsibility and humanitarian duty to not only open our state to these refugees but to do what we can to make their lives easier, ensuring access to housing, mobility, and state-issued identification.”

Since SB 935 doesn’t provide any funding, perhaps it is a matter of operation and the ODHS Refugee Program will fill in the funding.

SB 935 was referred to the Senate Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs Committee for possible hearing.


--Dollie Banner

Post Date: 2023-03-11 15:14:22

Last Update: 2023-03-10 18:49:04