[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5096 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5096
To require certain actions related to resettlement of certain Afghan
and Iraqi special immigrants, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 24, 2021
Ms. Matsui (for herself, Mr. Crow, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Lofgren, Mr.
Blumenauer, Mr. Keating, Mr. Auchincloss, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Correa,
Mr. McGovern, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Payne, Ms. Norton, Mr. McNerney, Mr.
Langevin, Mr. Espaillat, Ms. Omar, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Ms.
Bonamici, Mr. Gallego, Ms. Ross, Mr. Jones, Mr. Kahele, Mr. Raskin, Ms.
Johnson of Texas, Mr. Welch, and Mr. Khanna) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in
addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Armed Services, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require certain actions related to resettlement of certain Afghan
and Iraqi special immigrants, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Afghan and Iraqi Allies Resettlement
Improvement Act''.
SEC. 2. SURVEY ON LONG-TERM OUTCOMES FOR CERTAIN AFGHAN AND IRAQI
SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
conducting the next Annual Survey of Refugees pursuant to section
413(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1523(b)(1)),
shall conduct a supplement to examine and report on long-term outcomes
for the special population described in subsection (b), including
employment, job security, wage growth, career advancement, housing,
home ownership, and educational attainment.
(b) Population Described.--The special population described in this
subsection is the cohort of individuals who were admitted into the
United States as a special immigrant under one of the applicable
provisions of law within the five-fiscal-year period immediately
preceding the fiscal year in which the supplement is conducted.
SEC. 3. IMPROVED DELIVERY OF INFORMATION ABOUT RESETTLEMENT TO
PROSPECTIVE AFGHAN AND IRAQI SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall identify and
implement additional ways to deliver information in Dari, Pashto, or
Urdu to prospective SIV holders about the United States resettlement
program to assist with post-arrival adjustment and expectations,
including more detailed or in-depth information on key issues. The
Secretary shall also identify and address potential gaps in
disseminating relevant information to SIV holders, such as at embassies
and online.
(b) Definition.--For purposes of subsection (a), the term
``prospective SIV holder'' means an alien who has applied, or is
considering applying, for admission into the United States as a special
immigrant under one of the applicable provisions of law.
SEC. 4. EMPLOYMENT FOR RESETTLED AFGHAN AND IRAQI SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
State shall jointly establish and operate a temporary program to offer
employment as translators, interpreters, or cultural awareness
instructors to individuals described in subsection (b).
(b) Eligibility.--Individuals referred to in subsection (a) are
individuals who were admitted into the United States as a special
immigrant under one of the applicable provisions of law.
(c) Funding.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
program established under subsection (a) shall be funded from
the annual general operating budget of the Department of
Defense.
(2) Exception.--The Secretary of State shall reimburse the
Department of Defense for any costs associated with individuals
described in subsection (b) whose work was for the Department
of State.
(d) Rule of Construction Regarding Access to Classified
Information.--Nothing in this section may be construed as affecting in
any manner practices and procedures regarding the handling of or access
to classified information.
(e) Information Sharing.--The Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of State shall work with the Secretary of Homeland Security,
the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and
Human Services, and nongovernmental organizations to ensure that
individuals described in subsection (b) are informed of the program
established under subsection (a).
(f) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with
the Secretary of State, shall prescribe such regulations as are
necessary to carry out the program established under subsection (a),
including establishing pay scales and hiring procedures, and
determining the number of positions required to be filled.
(g) Termination.--The program established under subsection (a)
shall terminate on December 31, 2026.
SEC. 5. DEFINITION.
For purposes of this Act, the term ``applicable provisions of law''
means the following:
(1) Section 1059 of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109-163; 8 U.S.C. 1101 note).
(2) Section 1244 of the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act of 2007
(8 U.S.C. 1157 note).
(3) Section 602 of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009
(8 U.S.C. 1101 note).
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