Sister Agnes Schneider has never forgotten what she saw in an Iraq hospital in 1999.

In stifling 100-degree heat, patients waited for their families to bring them food, lying on beds that doubled as nurse's stations with reports tucked underneath the mattresses.

"Lack of medicine, a lack of equipment," Sister Schneider said. "Hearing one of the doctors in Baghdad saying, 'Go back to your own country and tell our story.' I'm coming back today to say what we need to do now for reconstruction."

She was one of nine Dominican nuns who went on the 1999 humanitarian trip to Iraq. On Wednesday, Sister Schneider of Racine returned from a three-day trip to Washington, D.C. Part of a delegation of Dominican nuns representing 12 communities throughout the country, the trip was an effort to get legislators to assist Iraqi refugees.

"This is an issue that is not being spoken about much yet in Washington," Sister Schneider said. "We have to say there are other options than war. You never settle anything by war, it's by dialogue."

An estimated 4 million Iraqis have been displaced from their homes, including about 2.2 million inside Iraq and 2 million refugees, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The delegation's meetings in Washington focused on how to strengthen humanitarian assistance, increase support of relief and recovery and improve U.S. admissions and resettlement of Iraqi refugees, Sister Schneider said.

The U.S. has not met its promise of supporting 7,000 refugees in 2007, and is behind on reaching the goal of 12,000 in 2008, she said.

Sister Alice Rademacher, who has worked with Sister Schneider through the Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice, said it's important to inform legislators about the refugees' situation.

"There are always people who suffer as a result of those wars when they're on their homeland," Rademacher said. "We as citizens have to advocate and speak up for those who surely can't for themselves."

During her three days in Washington, Sister Schneider and the two other Wisconsin nuns on the trip met with local legislators Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, and Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, and aides for Democratic senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold. One important topic was providing funding to aid the refugees.

Kohl spokesman Rohit Mahajan said the senator supports additional assistance funds.

"We do recognize this as a humanitarian issue and as a direct consequence of the war in Iraq," Mahajan said.

In addition to hearing from legislators, Sister Schneider said people would stop the nuns on the street and express their support while they were walking through Congress. The delegation had the message "Support humanitarian action for Iraqi families" printed on the backs of their green and white T-shirts, which were the same colors as Iraq's champion soccer team's jerseys.

"It shows the unity that can take place in that country," Sister Schneider said. "It is a beautiful way of saying we can come together for an action. And we want to ask the United States now to come together in an action and take the responsibility of helping for reconstruction and assistance."

She said she would continue her grass-roots efforts here in Racine, working in groups such as the peace coalition, standing at the corner of highways 20 and 31 once a month holding up a peace sign, and using word-of-mouth to spread information about the refugees' plight.

"As a Dominican, I'm committed to the truth and justice," Sister Schneider said. "I cannot be committed and be quiet."