Representatives Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Patrick E. Murphy (D-FL) sent a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies, urging Congressional appropriators to include funding for Israel’s Ethiopian community in Fiscal Year 2017 (please find attached a copy of the letter.)
 
“For decades, the United States has worked closely with Israel to improve the safety and livelihoods of its citizens. I am pleased to lead this effort to further build upon our relationship and work together to assist one of Israel’s most in-need minority communities,” said Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20). “The Ethiopian National Project has for years prioritized the success of Israel’s Ethiopian community, working with local municipalities to operate neighborhood outreach centers that provide supplementary academic tutoring for thousands of youth. This program, which already partners with a number of private organizations and the Jewish Federations of America, has had great success at reaching at-risk youth, and the model shows promise for a sister-city partnership in the United States in the future. Through this initiative, we can work together to better lift up those in need.”
 
“With thousands of Ethiopian youth in Israel classified as in-need, this critical program has helped support and empower these at-risk students to help them better integrate into Israeli society and achieve academic success,” said Congressman Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18). “I thank Congressman Hastings for his leadership on this issue, making sure this vital program, which harnesses public-private partnerships, has the resources it needs to continue with the hope that its success can be replicated to help at-risk youth in the United States.”
 
The Ethiopian National Project operates in 23 communities across Israel. The program serves approximately 3,413 in-need youth in its scholastic assistance programs, approximately one quarter of the 12,000 Ethiopian youth in Israel classified as in-need. The proposed funding would allow the program to reach a greater portion of the at-risk population, and lay the groundwork for a future sister-city program in the United States.
 
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.

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