September 24, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 154 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
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REAFFIRMING IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 154
(House of Representatives - September 24, 2019)
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[Pages H7886-H7888] 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 Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 444) reaffirming the importance of the United States to promote the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 444 Whereas the United States has historically served as the benchmark for establishing a comprehensive response to displacement crises around the world, as well as for promoting the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons; [[Page H7887]] Whereas June 20 is observed as World Refugee Day, a global day to acknowledge the courage, strength, resilience, and determination of women, men, and children who are forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence, and persecution; Whereas, in 2018, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees-- (1) there were more than 70,800,000 displaced persons worldwide, the worst displacement crisis in global history, including more than 25,900,000 refugees, over 41,300,000 internally displaced persons, and 3,500,000 people seeking asylum; (2) on average, 37,000 people were forced from their homes each day in the absence of peace and reconciliation in countries where armed conflict, violence, and persecution continue to reign; (3) 13,600,000 new individuals and families were displaced, the majority of whom were displaced within the borders of their own countries; (4) 60 percent of preventable maternal deaths occur in situations of conflict and displacement, and 1 in 5 refugees or displaced women in situations of humanitarian crisis suffer sexual violence, a figure which is likely underestimated; (5) children accounted for about half of all refugees, only half of them attend school; (6) refugee children were five times more likely to be out of school than children who are not displaced, with refugee girls having less access to school than refugee boys; (7) 67 percent of all refugees came from Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia, including 6,654,000 refugees from Syria alone; (8) there were more than 13,000,000 forcibly displaced Syrians, including 6,654,000 refugees, 6,184,000 internally displaced people, and 140,000 asylum-seekers; and (9) 84 percent of all refugees were hosted by developing nations, and less than 1 percent of vulnerable refugees in need of resettlement had the opportunity to resettle because sufficient numbers of places do not exist; and Whereas the United States resettlement program is a life- saving solution critical to global humanitarian efforts, which serves to strengthen global security, advance United States foreign policy goals, and support regional host countries while serving individuals and families in need: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of the United States to promote the safety, health, education, and well- being of the millions of refugees and displaced persons uprooted by war, persecution, and violence in search of peace, hope, and freedom; (2) supports those who have risked their lives, working either individually or for nongovernmental organizations or international agencies such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to provide life-saving assistance and protection to those displaced around the world; (3) underscores the importance of the United States refugee resettlement program as a critical tool for United States global leadership to leverage foreign policy, strengthen national and regional security, and encourage international solidarity with host countries; (4) calls upon the United States Secretary of State and United States Ambassador to the United Nations to-- (A) continue supporting robust funding for refugee protection and humanitarian response overseas and resettlement to the United States; (B) uphold the United States international leadership role in responding to displacement crises with humanitarian assistance, and restore its leadership role in the protection of vulnerable refugee populations that endure sexual violence, human trafficking, persecution and violence against religious minorities, forced conscription, genocide, and exploitation; (C) work in partnership with the international community to find solutions to existing conflicts, promote peace and reconciliation, and prevent new conflicts from beginning; (D) continue supporting the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and to advance the work of nongovernmental organizations to protect refugees regardless of their country of origin or religious beliefs; (E) continue to alleviate pressures on frontline refugee host countries that absorb the majority of the world's refugees through humanitarian and development support; and (F) respond to the global refugee crisis by meeting robust refugee admissions goals; and (5) reaffirms the goals of World Refugee Day and reiterates the strong commitment to protect the millions of refugees who live without material, social, or legal protections. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan. General Leave Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H. Res. 444. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Michigan? There was no objection. Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to start by thanking the gentleman from California (Mr. Ted Lieu) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart) for introducing this resolution, which affirms the importance of U.S. leadership to assist the unprecedented number of refugees and displaced persons around the world. Our country has a rich history of accepting refugees from all walks of life. It is the cornerstone of what makes America so special and why so many of us are actually standing here today. For decades, the United States admitted more refugees than any other country. As a nation of immigrants, Americans have always felt a special obligation to take in people fleeing violence and danger. But now, precisely when we are facing a worldwide refugee crisis, with the numbers of displaced people at a record high, the Trump administration has drastically cut admissions. They are rejecting our traditions of openness and willingness to help people facing great peril by slamming the door on these innocent men, women, and children. There are 70.8 million people who are displaced around the globe, and the Trump administration has cut the number we are allowing into our country to 30,000. It is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, and it is a moral stain on this country. This resolution emphasizes the need for the U.S. to lead on the global refugee crisis and calls on the Secretary of State and the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to continue supporting refugees and displaced persons. It is a good measure that I urge my colleagues to support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee of Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, September 12, 2019. Hon Jerrold Nadler, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Nadler: I am writing to you concerning H. Res. 444, Reaffirming the importance of the United States to promote the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary under House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H. Res. 444 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of Committee on the Judiciary conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation. Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Eliot L. Engel, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, September 12, 2019. Hon. Eliot L. Engel, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Engel: This is to advise you that the Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to review the provisions in H. Res. 444, ``Reaffirming the importance of the United States to promote the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate your consulting with us on those provisions. The Judiciary Committee has no objection to your including them in the bill for consideration on the House floor, and to expedite that consideration is willing to forgo action on H. Res. 444, with the understanding that we do not thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over those provisions or their subject matters. In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the right to request an appropriate number of conferees to address any concerns with these or similar provisions that may arise in conference. Please place this letter into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have [[Page H7888]] worked regarding this matter and others between our committees. Sincerely, Jerrold Nadler, Chairman. Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bipartisan resolution focusing on refugees and displaced persons, and I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Ted Lieu) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart) for introducing the resolution. Today, conflict, violence, and natural disasters have displaced more than 70 million people around the world, the highest levels in history. We see these traumas in Syria, in Venezuela, in sub-Saharan Africa, in Burma and many other places. These huge movements of vulnerable people and populations are not just humanitarian crises, but also strategic challenges to the stability of many critical regions. The United States is and will continue to be a leader in confronting this reality. We remain the largest single donor supporting the needs of refugees and displaced persons around the world. But, as the need is increasing, we must also push our partners and other responsible nations to contribute more to these important efforts. This resolution also, appropriately, recognizes the men and women who risk their lives to provide lifesaving assistance and protection to refugee populations. Without their bravery and dedication, none of this work would be possible. In closing, I want to urge all my colleagues to support this important resolution. Let me also say, on a point of personal privilege, I have enjoyed this exchange, this debate today with my good friend from Michigan (Mr. Levin), carrying on what I consider to be what the Foreign Affairs Committee is most proud of, and that is we are the most bipartisan committee in the House and, I would argue, in the Congress, and it is a great tradition to carry forward. I look forward to working with Mr. Levin in the future. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, 80 years ago, at the beginning of World War II, a ship called the St. Louis neared America's shores. 937 passengers, almost all Jewish refugees of the Nazis, asked for the United States to allow them entry. We easily could have absorbed all these people and more, but instead we turned them away. Many were taken in by Western European countries, but 254, more than a quarter of them, died in the Holocaust. We could have prevented these deaths, but we didn't. So as we consider this resolution, let's remember the lessons of the St. Louis. I remain committed to undoing the devastation done to America's tradition of admitting refugees. Our country's ceiling for refugee admissions is already at a historic low. We must do more to provide safe haven for the 70.8 million innocent people who are displaced all around this world. This administration's crackdown on refugees is irresponsible. It leaves a moral stain on our Nation and will contribute to national security threats stemming from global instability. I urge my colleagues to support the good, bipartisan measure offered by Mr. Lieu and Mr. Diaz-Balart. I echo my colleague from Texas Mr. McCaul's remarks. It is a deep honor to be here debating this measure with Mr. McCaul, and I look forward to working with him in a bipartisan manner that is really a unique and a proud tradition of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 444, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________
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