Laredo, TX – Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced over $12 million in federal funding to help secure local communities. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo will receive $6,438,769 and the Laredo Fire Department $5,961,992 in the first tranche of FY23 Shelter and Services Program (SSP) funding, a program Congressman Cuellar started in 2014. The funds are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“It is critical that we bring law and order to our southern border. I have been working in constant coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and our local entities here in Laredo to tackle the challenges that continue to arise in our border communities. The funds announced today will reimburse Catholic Charities of Laredo and the Laredo Fire Department for their important work in alleviating pressure at our processing facilities,” said Congressman Cuellar. “I started this important program in 2014 to reimburse local governments and organizations who support our men and women on the ground. We’re seeing the results of that today. I will continue working at all levels of government to ensure that our communities and organizations are equipped to handle influxes of irregular migration. Thank you to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo and the Laredo Fire Department for working with me to provide relief for our border communities.”

Congressman Cuellar previously secured $11,213,650 for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo and $2,974,658 for the Laredo Fire Department through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP).

The FY23 Shelter and Services Program (SSP) provides federal funding for non-federal entities to reimburse costs incurred for services associated with noncitizen migrant arrivals in their communities. The funding announced today is the first tranche in FY23 federal assistance, with more funding to be announced at a later date.

For more information on the Shelter and Services Program, click here.

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