NH House narrowly passes repeal of refugee resettlement program

A bill to repeal New Hampshire’s refugee resettlement program advanced toward the end of a marathon 12-hour voting session this week, which is headed to the state Senate.

Republicans have pitched some form of this legislation before, with little luck. House leadership pledged its support to Weare Rep. Travis Corcoran, the bill’s sponsor, in exchange for his vote on the narrow passage of the state budget last year, he said on social media.

Repealing the program would reject federal funding for services that aim to help refugees become economically self-sufficient as quickly as possible. This includes assisting them in getting a driver’s license, finding a job and learning financial literacy.

State officials who oversee the program said that since it’s run by the federal government, ending state involvement would not stop refugees from coming to New Hampshire.

Opponents argued that the bill does nothing but eliminate oversight and assistance by the state Department of Health and Human Services. The Office of Health Access coordinates grants that pass from the federal government, through the state government, to nonprofits that do the work.

“This 100% federally funded program will not cease to exist, and we will just lose federal funding in passing this,” said Rep. Trinidad Tellez, a Hooksett Democrat who led the state office that coordinates the program.

Rep. Matt Drew, a Republican from Manchester who cosponsored the bill, argued the state should have no hand in passing government money to private organizations. He called the nonprofits that administer these services “parasitical.”

“We cannot repeal a federal program, but we can stop the state from helping them work against our own citizens,” Drew said.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s office did not respond to inquiries from the Monitor about whether she supports the legislation.

At a Free State Project event last weekend, attended by several Republican and Libertarian legislators, speakers talked about cutting ties with various types of federal funding and grants as a way to build New Hampshire’s independence from the U.S. government as a “free state.”

Corcoran characterized the refugee resettlement program as “massively socially detrimental” and spoke at length during the public hearing about the economic and societal problems he believes are caused by refugees.

Corcoran consistently posts on social media with provocative language that fellow legislators have called racist. This week, he was reprimanded by Republican and Democratic leaders after calling for a “final solution” in reference to another state representative. The term was used by Nazi leaders as a euphemism for the mass murder of Jews during the Holocaust.

House Speaker Sherman Packard said in a statement that Corcoran’s language was “deeply inappropriate.”

“Any language that invokes violence, hate, or intolerance is unacceptable by any member,” Packard said. “Our institution is built on respect and the responsibility to serve all Granite Staters with dignity and professionalism. Conduct that undermines that mission does not reflect our values.”

What’s next: House Bill 1706 heads to the Republican-led Senate. Gov. Kelly Ayotte has not yet indicated whether she supports it.

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