[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3674 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3674

To address the impending humanitarian crisis and security breakdown as 
    a result of the mass influx of Iraqi refugees into neighboring 
countries, and the growing internally displaced population in Iraq, by 
  increasing directed accountable assistance to these populations and 
their host countries, increasing border security, and facilitating the 
                    resettlement of Iraqis at risk.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 26, 2007

  Mr. Hastings of Florida (for himself, Mr. Israel, and Mr. McGovern) 
 introduced the following bill; 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To address the impending humanitarian crisis and security breakdown as 
    a result of the mass influx of Iraqi refugees into neighboring 
countries, and the growing internally displaced population in Iraq, by 
  increasing directed accountable assistance to these populations and 
their host countries, increasing border security, and facilitating the 
                    resettlement of Iraqis at risk.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Iraqi Refugee and 
Internally Displaced Persons Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement, and 
Security Act of 2007''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 4. Statements of policy.
Sec. 5. Humanitarian assistance for Iraqi refugees and IDPs.
Sec. 6. Improved border security.
Sec. 7. Special immigrant status.
Sec. 8. Expedited processing of Iraqi refugees.
Sec. 9. International cooperation.
Sec. 10. Report to Congress.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Since the beginning of the war in Iraq, according to 
        the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 
        (UNHCR), more than 2,000,000 Iraqis have fled their homes for 
        neighboring countries to avoid sectarian and other violence.
            (2) According to the UNHCR, there are 2,200,000 internally 
        displaced people (IDPs) in Iraq, many lacking adequate food, 
        shelter, and other basic services;
            (3) The security situation within Iraq reduces access to 
        the Iraqi population by Iraqi Government agencies and 
        humanitarian aid providers and greatly limits the provision of 
        aid.
            (4) The dispersion of Iraqi refugees in poor urban areas of 
        host countries makes it exceedingly difficult for humanitarian 
        agencies to identify and reach these populations.
            (5) Iraq itself hosts more than 43,000 refugees from other 
        countries, many of whom were refugees prior to 2003 and have 
        been displaced in Iraq for a second time, including many 
        Palestinians.
            (6) Palestinian refugee camps in Iraq near the Syrian and 
        Jordanian borders remain in dire need of humanitarian 
        assistance.
            (7) Many Iraqis have put their lives and those of their 
        families at risk by working for the United States Government, 
        United States companies, and nongovernmental organizations.
            (8) Since March 2003, the United States Government has 
        admitted 1,459 Iraqi refugees, while Jordan, a resource-poor 
        country, has accepted an estimated 750,000, Syria an estimated 
        1,500,000, and other countries neighboring Iraq have received 
        hundreds of thousands more.
            (9) Current United States policies governing the processing 
        of refugees constrain the Department of Homeland Security from 
        expediting the screening procedures and increasing the number 
        of Iraqi refugees accepted into the United States.
            (10) The massive flow of Iraqi refugees into neighboring 
        host countries has overwhelmed existing social, economic, and 
        security capacities of such countries.
            (11) The Government of Jordan and the Government of Syria 
        require immediate assistance to adequately assist Iraqi refugee 
        populations, to ensure an effective degree of security within 
        their respective countries, and safeguard their borders.
            (12) Increasing destitution and poverty among displaced 
        populations provide fertile ground for extremist ideologies to 
        take root.
            (13) The Iraq Study group predicted that ``[a] humanitarian 
        catastrophe could follow as more refugees are forced to 
        relocate across the country and the region.''.
            (14) The humanitarian crisis in Iraq threatens to 
        destabilize the entire region and other areas as well, 
        including Central Asia and Europe.
            (15) Jordan estimates that it needs more than 
        $1,000,000,000 in emergency assistance and Syria estimates it 
        needs more than $250,000,000 in similar assistance to 
        adequately provide for the refugee populations they are 
        hosting, ensure an effective degree of security within their 
        respective countries, and safeguard their borders.
            (16) The United States policy is to admit at least half of 
        the refugees referred by the UNHCR. In 2007, UNHCR referred 
        more than 9,500 cases to the United States. The United States 
        pledged to resettle 7,000 Iraqi refugees in 2007, later reduced 
        to 2,000, a commitment which has yet to be met.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Iraqi refugees and IDPs will have an impact on the 
        security of the region and the short and long-term effects of 
        their displacement must be considered within overall United 
        States Iraq policy;
            (2) the United States must demonstrate its commitment to 
        resettle Iraqi refugees and to work with other governments, 
        including the member states of the Organization for Security 
        and Cooperation in Europe, to encourage them to do the same; 
        and
            (3) the United States should express its gratitude and 
        support to host countries for providing humanitarian assistance 
        to Iraqi refugees, as well as to those countries that have 
        already resettled Iraqi refugees.

SEC. 4. STATEMENTS OF POLICY.

    The following shall be the policies of the United States:
            (1) To spearhead efforts to provide for the relief of Iraqi 
        refugees and IDPs, to take the lead in funding assistance 
        requests from the UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies, and to 
        assist in the resettlement of Iraqi refugees, particularly 
        those who have risked their lives and the lives of their 
        families to assist the United States in Iraq.
            (2) To develop immediately a comprehensive program to 
        support the host countries and meet the needs of the growing 
        Iraqi refugee and IDP populations, and appoint a high-level 
        coordinator to ensure expeditious and effective implementation 
        of such a program.
            (3) To work with the Government of Iraq to help it improve 
        its capacity and ability to provide relief for internally 
        displaced persons in all communities throughout the country and 
        to provide assistance to Iraqi refugees in neighboring 
        countries.
            (4) To commit to working with international partners, 
        including the United Nations, donor countries, international 
        financial institutions, and international and indigenous 
        nongovernmental organizations to assist in providing for the 
        emergency, medium, and long-term humanitarian needs of Iraqi 
        refugees and IDPs.

SEC. 5. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR IRAQI REFUGEES AND IDPS.

    (a) In General.--With respect to each country containing a 
significant population of Iraqi refugees or IDPs, including Iraq, 
Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Lebanon, the Secretary of State shall 
provide bilateral assistance to such countries, as appropriate, or 
funding to international aid organizations and nongovernmental 
organizations in accordance with subsection (b) that are working in 
such countries, to provide such refugees and IDPs with humanitarian 
assistance, including adequate food, shelter, clean drinking water, 
sanitation, health care, education, and security.
    (b) Assistance and Funding.--Assistance and funding under paragraph 
(1) shall be in the form of--
            (1) contributions to the UNHCR that are not less than 50 
        percent of the amount requested by the UNHCR for 2008, 2009, 
        2010, and 2011 for aid to Iraqi refugees;
            (2) contributions to the International Federation of the 
        Red Cross and Red Crescent and other nongovernmental 
        organizations working in such countries to provide aid to Iraqi 
        refugees; and
            (3) contributions and technical assistance to relevant 
        ministries of the Government of Iraq, contingent on matching 
        Government of Iraq funding of assistance programs for IDPs and 
        Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, together with 
        appropriate monitoring mechanisms.
    (c) Special Provisions Relating to IDPs.--The Secretary of State 
shall make every effort to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the 
most vulnerable IDP populations, including women, children, and 
religious and other minorities, are met, including increased resources 
to improve the registration capabilities of nongovernmental 
organizations for such IDPs, adequate food, shelter, clean drinking 
water, sanitation, health care, education, and security .
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $700,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010 
to carry out this section. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this 
authorization shall be in addition to amounts otherwise available for 
such purposes.

SEC. 6. IMPROVED BORDER SECURITY.

    (a) Security Screening of Refugees.--
            (1) In general.--As soon as practicable but not later than 
        180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
        Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, in 
        cooperation with the Secretary of State, shall establish a 
        program to assist in improving the capacity of Jordanian border 
        police, immigration officers, and other individuals who are 
        responsible for Jordanian border security functions in the 
        security screening of Iraqi refugees to determine the 
        eligibility of such refugees for acceptance in Jordan.
            (2) Scope of assistance.--The program described in 
        paragraph (1) shall be extended to ports of entry at Jordanian 
        land, sea, and air borders and may include the following 
        subject matter areas:
                    (A) Police and border guard training, in order to 
                conduct threat assessments of each refugee, detect 
                threat items and contraband in the possession or on the 
                person of a refugee, and identify any linkages of a 
                refugee to terrorists or terrorist organizations.
                    (B) Travel documentation authentication, including 
                equipment and training, in order to aid in the 
                verification of the authenticity of passports and other 
                travel documents presented by refugees.
                    (C) Technology, including biometric equipment for 
                capturing a unique biometric of each refugee to be 
                matched with their biographic data, and the 
                establishment of a database for such information, and 
                remotely-piloted aircraft, cameras, and sensors for 
                border surveillance, including the collection of 
                intelligence to counter smuggling and other criminal 
                activities along the borders.
                    (D) Personnel, for the purpose of interdicting the 
                illegal movement of people, weapons, and other 
                contraband across the border, including an increase in 
                the number of border police and officers providing 
                investigative support to border security functions.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $500,000,000 to carry out this section.

SEC. 7. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT STATUS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for 
purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et 
seq.), the Secretary of Homeland Security may provide an alien 
described in subsection (b) with the status of a special immigrant 
under section 101(a)(27) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)), if the 
alien--
            (1) is otherwise eligible to receive an immigrant visa; and
            (2) is otherwise admissible to the United States for 
        permanent residence.
    (b) Aliens Described.--
            (1) Principal aliens.--An alien is described in this 
        subsection if the alien--
                    (A) is a national of Iraq;
                    (B) was employed by, or worked for or with, the 
                United States Government, United States companies, or 
                nongovernmental organizations in Iraq on or after March 
                19, 2003, for a period of not less than one year; and
                    (C) fears reprisal, persecution, injury, or death 
                to the alien or the alien's family due to the 
                employment or work of the alien referred to in 
                subparagraph (B).
            (2) Spouses and children.--An alien is described in this 
        subsection if the alien is--
                    (A) the spouse or child of a principal alien 
                described in paragraph (1); and
                    (B) is following or accompanying to join the 
                principal alien in the United States.
    (c) Benefits.--Aliens provided special immigrant status under this 
section shall be eligible for the same resettlement assistance, 
entitlement programs, and other benefits as refugees admitted under 
section 207 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (8 U.S.C. 1157).
    (d) Protection of Aliens.--The Secretary of State, in consultation 
with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall provide an 
alien described in this section who is applying for a special immigrant 
visa with protection or the immediate removal from Iraq if the 
Secretary determines that such alien fears reprisal, persecution, 
injury, or death to the alien or the alien's family due to the 
employment or work of the alien referred to in paragraph (1)(B).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010 
to carry out this section. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this 
authorization shall be in addition to amounts otherwise available for 
such purposes.

SEC. 8. EXPEDITED PROCESSING OF IRAQI REFUGEES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
cooperation with the Secretary of State, shall make every effort to 
streamline the screening and security investigations processes for 
assessing the eligibility of Iraqi applicants for refugee status in the 
United States.
    (b) Prioritization.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall--
            (1) give priority to Iraqis who--
                    (A) were employed by the United States Government, 
                United States companies, and nongovernmental 
                organizations; or
                    (B) are members of particularly vulnerable refugee 
                populations, including Iraqis from ethnically mixed 
                families and Iraqis who are members of religious or 
                other minority groups; and
            (2) increase by 100 percent the number of personnel of the 
        Department of Homeland Security who conduct security reviews of 
        Iraqi applicants for refugee status in the United States.
    (c) Numbers.--For each of fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010, up to 
20,000 Iraqis may be accepted into the United States as refugees under 
this section.

SEC. 9. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.

    The Secretary of State, in cooperation with the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, shall work with the international community, 
including the United Nations, the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe, the European Union, the Organization of American 
States, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and others to 
establish mechanisms to provide--
            (1) financial assistance to Iraqi refugee and IDP 
        populations through bilateral assistance to host governments or 
        through international organizations that are working directly 
        with such refugee and internally displaced populations;
            (2) technical and financial assistance to international 
        organizations in order to process refugees; and
            (3) increased attention to and advocacy on behalf of Iraqi 
        refugees and IDPs by continuing to strongly support the work of 
        the UNHCR and its donor conferences.

SEC. 10. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act 
and every six months thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and 
the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report regarding 
implementation of this Act, including--
            (1) assistance and funding to host countries and 
        international aid organizations and nongovernmental 
        organizations pursuant to section 5, and accountability reports 
        regarding how such funds are being expended;
            (2) measures taken by the United States to increase its 
        capabilities to process Iraqi refugees for resettlement and the 
        number of Iraqi refugees resettled under sections 7 and 8; and
            (3) an evaluation of the effectiveness of measures 
        implemented by agencies of the Government of Iraq to provide 
        direct assistance to IDPs and Iraqi refugees in neighboring 
        countries.
                                 <all>