As part of legislative efforts to welcome and ease integration of immigrants and new Americans in Ohio State, Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko will table sponsored testimonies Wednesday, February 5, 2020 on the establishment of the Ohio European Commission.

While commenting on the non-funding and other challenges facing the Ohio New African Immigrants Commission at the Ohio Associated Press 2020 Legislative Preview Session,  Senator Yuko said the new commission will allow immigrants from Europe to “connect with Ohio and work together as a community.”

Senate President Larry Obhof assured the immigrant community that the Senate Leadership has an open-door policy where they can come and visit the house leadership if they are facing challenges.

“Don’t just reach out to your local legislators but engage the house leadership when you run into problems on a daily basis,” said Senate President Larry Obhof.

House Speaker Larry Householder said, “We are a nation of immigrants; my position has always been that I have wanted to welcome people that want to live here.”

Also, House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes said, “We need to do much more to welcome those who are coming into Ohio State. Unfortunately, Ohio has lost the promise that brought people here or keep people here. We have a lot of brain drain, folks moving down south. We should take a closer look at the African Immigrants Commission.”

Other agencies addressing the needs of immigrants and new Americans in Ohio State include the Hispanic Latino Affairs Commission, the Asian American Pacific Islander Advisory Council and Opportunities for New Americans and the New American Advisory Committee.