September 27, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 157 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REAFFIRMING IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY, 
        HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TED LIEU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 24, 2019

  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the House is 
considering H. Res. 444, a bipartisan resolution that I introduced with 
Representatives Diaz-Balart, Neguse, and Lofgren to reaffirm U.S. 
leadership in responding to displacement crises around the world.
  We are facing the worst refugee crisis in history. According to the 
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in 2018, there were more 
than 70.8 million displaced persons worldwide. This included nearly 26 
million refugees, over 41 million internally displaced persons, and 3.5 
million people seeking asylum. Put another way, in 2018, 37,000 people 
were being displaced from their homes each day. About half of all 
refugees were children. 67 percent came from Syria, Afghanistan, South 
Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia and 84 percent were hosted by developing 
nations.
  Beyond the statistics, there are far too many stories of people 
fleeing despair. Seemingly every day we are presented with new accounts 
of migrants in Central America escaping gang or domestic violence and 
seeking refuge in the United States. Across the globe, Syrians, 
Somalians, Yemenis, and others continue to be displaced by various 
conflicts.
  This refugee crisis requires global leadership and compassion--yet we 
have seen the Trump Administration drastically reduce refugee 
admissions into the U.S. In 2018, the United States resettled only 
22,000 refugees compared to the 85,000 resettled in 2016. Now, we're 
hearing reports that the Administration is considering lowering the 
refugee admissions ceiling for next year to as low as zero to 10,000 
people. And while the new fiscal year begins in one week, the 
Administration still hasn't consulted with Congress--as it's required 
to do by law--about its plans.
  This is a betrayal of our shared American values. And it's a betrayal 
of our fellow human beings. Refugees are fleeing their homes because 
they are being persecuted for their race, religion, nationality, for 
belonging to a particular social group or being of a certain political 
opinion. They need our assistance.
  The United States resettlement program is critical to global 
humanitarian efforts. These efforts serve to strengthen global 
security, advance United States foreign policy goals, and support 
regional host countries while also serving individuals and families in 
need. Moreover, the resettlement program benefits the interests of the 
United States.
  When I was in the Air Force I saw the need for and the significance 
of our refugee resettlement program first-hand. In the 1990s, I 
participated in Operation Pacific Haven, where the United States helped 
thousands of Kurds flee from northern Iraq to prevent Saddam Hussein 
from slaughtering them. We first brought them to Guam, where I saw the 
extensive screening process that the U.S. conducted before bringing 
many of the refugees to the mainland. Not only were lives saved in this 
operation, but decades later our nation continues to benefit from 
helping those refugees. Knowing the severity of the refugee crisis 
today, we as a nation must do better to help those in need.
  My resolution reaffirms the United States commitment to promote the 
safety, health, and well-being of the millions of displaced persons. It 
recognizes the people and organizations who have risked their lives to 
provide assistance to displaced communities. Moreover, the resolution 
calls on the Secretary of State and the U.S. Ambassador to the United 
Nations to continue supporting robust funding for refugee protection 
and humanitarian response overseas and resettlement to the United 
States; to set robust refugee admissions goals; and to work in 
partnership with the international community to find solutions to 
existing conflicts and to promote peace and reconciliation.
  I am grateful that it is supported by more than 60 organizations 
including Church World Service, International Rescue Committee, Oxfam 
America, and Refugees International, and has been cosponsored by 74 of 
our colleagues in the House. I also thank my colleagues, 
Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart, Zoe Lofgren, and Joe Neguse, for 
their partnership on this bipartisan legislation.
  The United States was built on the idea that we could create a free 
country that would serve as a haven for those fleeing persecution. 
Refugees don't make our country less safe. But, xenophobia, fear and 
hate do. Today, by passing this bipartisan resolution, Congress will 
send a clear message that America is stronger when we welcome refugees 
and help those in need.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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