[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 902 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 902
Commemorating March 17, 2020, as the 40th anniversary of the Refugee
Act of 1980, and the amendments made by that Act, at a time when the
need for bipartisan support of the refugee resettlement program of the
United States is critical to the survival of the program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 13, 2020
Ms. Garcia of Texas (for herself and Mr. Curtis) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Commemorating March 17, 2020, as the 40th anniversary of the Refugee
Act of 1980, and the amendments made by that Act, at a time when the
need for bipartisan support of the refugee resettlement program of the
United States is critical to the survival of the program.
Whereas after receiving bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House of
Representatives, the Refugee Act of 1980, and the amendments made by
that Act, S. 643 (96th Congress), was signed into law on March 17, 1980,
to provide a domestic framework for the United States to align with the
international obligations of the United States, including under--
(1) the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, done at Geneva
July 28, 1951 (as made applicable by the Protocol Relating to the Status of
Refugees, done at New York January 31, 1967 (19 U.S.T. 6223)), of which the
United States is a party;
(2) the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment, done at New York December 10, 1984, of
which the United States is a party;
(3) the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, done at
New York September 28, 1954; and
(4) the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, done at New York
August 30, 1961;
Whereas the humanitarian protection provided by the Refugee Act of 1980, and the
amendments made by that Act (Public Law 96-212; 94 Stat. 102), is
consistent with the best values of the United States, such as judging
people not ``by the color of their skin but by the content of their
character'', championing religious liberty, standing up for one's
beliefs, standing up for those who are being mistreated, championing
democracy, and upholding the rights and practices of self-governance and
free speech regardless of race, ethnicity, or nationality;
Whereas refugees are courageous, hard-working people of conviction and values,
defenders of democracy and faith, and people who face persecution on
account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular
social group, or political opinion, and in some cases, face persecution
because they allied with the United States in crucial missions, such as
in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Iraq, and Afghanistan;
Whereas the refugee resettlement program of the United States authorized under
the Refugee Act of 1980, and the amendments made by that Act (Public Law
96-212; 94 Stat. 102), is a lifesaving solution critical to global
humanitarian efforts that serves to--
(1) strengthen global security;
(2) advance the United States foreign policy goals and national
security interests;
(3) support countries that host hundreds of thousands, or even
millions, of refugees;
(4) collaborate with and support the efforts of the international
community to support and resettle vulnerable populations;
(5) stabilize sensitive conflicts and regions around the globe; and
(6) encourage other nations to contribute to this cause through
humanitarian support, resettlement, and finding strategies to address
existing conflict and prevent future conflict;
Whereas the refugee resettlement program provides protection and resettlement
opportunities to individuals from Iraq and Afghanistan who worked side
by side with members of the United States Armed Forces and peace
builders;
Whereas the administration acknowledges the partnership between refugee
admission and protection of inherent human rights in both the 2018
Report on International Religious Freedom and the 2018 Country Reports
on Human Rights Practices;
Whereas refugees are major contributors to local economies, pay an average of
$21,000 more in taxes than they receive in benefits, and revitalize
cities and towns by offsetting population decline and boosting economic
growth throughout the United States by opening businesses, paying taxes,
and buying homes;
Whereas several industries rely heavily on refugee workers to support the
economic stability of those industries, and low rates of arrivals of
refugees, especially in towns that rely on refugee populations to
revitalize the industries in those towns, have had serious effects on
economic growth;
Whereas through the refugee resettlement program, the United States has proudly
pursued strategic and humanitarian interests, resettling more than 3
million refugees in all 50 States for over 40 years, and the program has
received support from Republican and Democratic Presidential
administrations and bipartisan congressional support, as Presidents have
set, through Presidential determinations, an average annual refugee
admissions goal of 95,000 refugees;
Whereas in collaboration with the Department of State, through the Office of
Refugee Resettlement, faith communities, civic leaders, local social
service agencies, employers, and refugee resettlement agencies provide
essential services and welcome refugees who bring new life and vitality
to local communities;
Whereas, in 2020, the world is in the midst of the worst global displacement
crisis in history, with more than 70,800,000 forcibly displaced persons,
including more than 25,900,000 refugees worldwide, more than half of
whom are children, according to estimates from the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees;
Whereas, in 2018, global resettlement needs were not met despite the high number
of refugees in need of third-country resettlement;
Whereas a decline in refugee resettlements has had adverse impacts on the
infrastructure of refugee resettlement in the United States, thus
creating challenges for future increases in resettlement;
Whereas many Presidents have made changes and improvements to the refugee
resettlement program while continuing to support and nurture its crucial
role in humanitarian protection and in promoting the strategic and
national security interests of the United States;
Whereas refugees are the most thoroughly vetted class of foreign nationals to
enter the United States and are subject to extensive screening checks,
including in-person interviews, biometric data checks, and multiple
interagency checks; and
Whereas as the major global humanitarian and strategic leader, the United States
should operate its refugee resettlement program in a manner consistent
with global refugee resettlement need, the United States historic
commitment to refugee resettlement since the enactment of the Refugee
Act of 1980, and its critical humanitarian leadership role on the world
stage: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) reaffirms its bipartisan commitment--
(A) to abide by the cherished domestic and
international legal obligations of the United States to
protect refugees who flee war, persecution, or torture
in search of religious liberty, democracy, peace, hope,
and freedom; and
(B) to recognize the importance of the refugee
resettlement program of the United States as a critical
tool for saving lives and as a critical function of
United States global leadership--
(i) to leverage foreign policy;
(ii) to strengthen national and regional
security;
(iii) to support allies of the United
States; and
(iv) to demonstrate international support
of refugees; and
(2) calls upon the United States Government--
(A) to provide robust funding for refugee
protection overseas and resettlement in the United
States;
(B) to uphold its international leadership role in
responding to displacement crises with humanitarian
assistance and protection of the most vulnerable
populations;
(C) to work in partnership with the international
community to find solutions to existing conflicts and
prevent new conflicts from beginning; and
(D) to ensure the United States refugee
resettlement program is equipped to protect and support
refugees, especially allies who need the support of the
United States, as well as the international refugee
assistance community that needs United States
leadership, and local communities across the United
States who want to welcome refugees and continue
together to build the American dream.
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