Rep. Waxman Leads Bipartisan Effort to Reinstate Critical Escape Route for Iranian Refugees.

Statement

Today, Representative Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) led a bi-partisan letter signed by 108 Members of Congress urging House Speaker Boehner, Democratic Leader Pelosi, Republican Leader Cantor and Democratic Whip Hoyer to reauthorize the "Lautenberg Amendment" for Fiscal Year 2012. The amendment is a lifeline for historically persecuted minorities escaping to seek refuge in the United States. It expired on June 1, 2011, ending the safe and orderly processing for these vulnerable refugees.

"We cannot shut the door on this critical escape route for oppressed religious minorities in Iran," said Representative Waxman. "I urge House leadership to act swiftly to reinstate the measure and stand by the Jews, Baha'is, Christians and other minority groups under threat of the Ahmadinejad regime."

First enacted in 1989, the Lautenberg Amendment facilitates refugee processing for historically persecuted Jews and Christians in the former Soviet Union and areas of Indochina. In 2003, the measure was expanded to include religious minorities from Iran. Today, the program's beneficiaries are predominantly Iranian Jews, Baha'is and Christians. With no U.S. Embassy in Tehran, the expiration of the program forces persecuted Iranian religious minorities to flee to dangerous neighboring countries such as Pakistan, where -- prior to Iran's inclusion in the Lautenberg Amendment -- a dozen Iranian Jewish refugees disappeared en route.

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