[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 578 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 578

  To address the impending humanitarian crisis and potential 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, facilitating the resettlement of 
                Iraqis at risk, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 15, 2009

 Mr. Hastings of Florida (for himself, Mr. Dingell, Mr. McGovern, Mr. 
 Delahunt, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Holt, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. 
Waters, Ms. Watson, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Courtney, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, 
and Ms. McCollum) 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 potential 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, facilitating the resettlement of 
                Iraqis at risk, 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; 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 2009''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Findings.
Sec. 4. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 5. Statements of policy.
Sec. 6. Humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations in Iraq and 
                            Iraqi refugees.
Sec. 7. Iraqi refugee admissions and processing.
Sec. 8. International cooperation.
Sec. 9. Reports to Congress.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) IDPs.--The term ``IDPs'' means internally displaced 
        people in Iraq.
            (2) UNHCR.--The term ``UNHCR'' means the Office of the 
        United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
            (3) Vulnerable populations in iraq.--The term ``vulnerable 
        populations in Iraq'' includes IDPs, Iraqis from ethnically 
        mixed families, women at risk, unaccompanied children and 
        adolescents, the elderly, Iraqis with serious medical needs, 
        survivors of violence or torture, Iraqis who are members of 
        religious or other minority groups, including Chaldo Assyrian 
        Christians, Sabian Mandaens, Yazidis, Jews, and Baha'is, and 
        any other group determined to be vulnerable by the Secretary of 
        State in consultation with the UNHCR.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Since the beginning of the war in Iraq, according to 
        the 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 more than 2,700,000 
        IDPs, many lacking adequate food, shelter, and other basic 
        services.
            (3) The security situation in several locations 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 Iraq Study group predicted that ``[a] humanitarian 
        catastrophe could follow as more refugees are forced to 
        relocate across the country and the region.''.
            (5) 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.
            (6) Many Iraqis have put their lives and those of their 
        families at risk by working for the United States Government, 
        United States corporations, the United States media, and 
        nongovernmental organizations.
            (7) Since March 2003, the United States has resettled fewer 
        than 20,000 Iraqi refugees, while Jordan and Syria have 
        provided temporary asylum to 2,000,000 Iraqis, and other 
        countries neighboring Iraq have received tens of thousands more 
        Iraqis.
            (8) Since March 2003, Sweden has accepted 40,000 Iraqi 
        refugees, and Denmark evacuated and resettled 370 Iraqi 
        interpreters and other Iraqis who worked for Danish troops 
        prior to the Danish contingent's departure from Iraq in 2007.
            (9) Current United States policies governing the processing 
        of refugees constrain United States Government agencies from 
        expediting the screening processes and increasing the number of 
        Iraqis 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) While Iraqi refugees and IDPs are disproportionately 
        made up of vulnerable populations, many other segments of the 
        Iraqi population at large are also vulnerable.
            (12) Increasing poverty and despair among displaced 
        populations may provide fertile ground for extremist ideologies 
        to take root and possible recruitment by extremist groups.
            (13) The humanitarian crisis in Iraq and neighboring 
        countries threatens to destabilize the entire region.
            (14) United States policy is to admit at least 50 percent 
        of the refugees referred by the UNHCR.
            (15) During 2008, the Government of Iraq dedicated 
        $18,000,000 to its Ministry of Displaced and Immigration and 
        offered $25,000,000 to neighboring countries hosting Iraqi 
        refugees.

SEC. 4. 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 should be considered within overall United 
        States policy toward Iraq and be addressed at the highest 
        levels of Government;
            (2) it is in the United States humanitarian and national 
        interests to demonstrate the United States commitment to 
        resettle Iraqi refugees and IDPs and the United States should 
        work with other governments, including the member states of the 
        Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to 
        encourage such governments 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 and to countries that have already resettled 
        Iraqi refugees.

SEC. 5. STATEMENTS OF POLICY.

    The policy of the United States shall be the following:
            (1) To lead an initiative to provide for the relief of 
        vulnerable populations in Iraq and Iraqi refugees in 
        neighboring countries and to take the lead in funding 
        assistance requests from the UNHCR, other humanitarian 
        agencies, and international organizations by funding at levels 
        well above the traditional United States share, and to assist 
        in the resettlement of Iraqi refugees.
            (2) To develop immediately a long-term comprehensive 
        strategy for Iraq in coordination with the Government of Iraq 
        and host countries, the United Nations, and nongovernmental 
        organizations to meet the humanitarian and security needs of 
        Iraqi refugees and IDPs and to establish within the Executive 
        Office of the President a Special Coordinator for Iraqi 
        Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons to ensure expeditious 
        and effective implementation of such a strategy.
            (3) To work with the Government of Iraq, the United 
        Nations, and nongovernmental organizations to help the 
        Government of Iraq improve its capacity and ability to provide 
        relief for vulnerable populations in Iraq in all communities 
        throughout Iraq 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, international and indigenous 
        nongovernmental organizations, and other international 
        organizations to assist in providing for the emergency, medium-
        , and long-term humanitarian needs of vulnerable populations in 
        Iraq and Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries.

SEC. 6. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN IRAQ AND 
              IRAQI REFUGEES.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (e), with respect 
to vulnerable populations in Iraq and with respect to each country 
containing a significant population of Iraqi refugees, including 
Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, and Egypt, the Secretary of State shall 
provide bilateral assistance to such countries, as appropriate under 
United States law, or funding to international organizations and 
nongovernmental organizations in accordance with subsection (b) that 
are working to provide humanitarian assistance, including adequate 
food, shelter, clean drinking water, sanitation, health care, 
education, related social services, and protection to such refugees or 
populations.
    (b) Assistance and Funding.--Assistance and funding under 
subsection (a) 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 and other 
        international organizations providing humanitarian assistance 
        to vulnerable populations in Iraq and to Iraqi refugees in 
        neighboring countries, for 2009, 2010, and 2011 for aid to such 
        populations and refugees;
            (2) contributions to the International Federation of the 
        Red Cross and Red Crescent, other nongovernmental 
        organizations, and other international organizations working in 
        such countries to provide aid to vulnerable populations in Iraq 
        and to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries; and
            (3) technical assistance to relevant ministries of the 
        Government of Iraq, contingent on substantially increased 
        Government of Iraq funding of assistance programs for 
        vulnerable populations in Iraq and for Iraqi refugees in 
        neighboring countries, together with appropriate monitoring 
        mechanisms.
    (c) Special Provisions Relating to Vulnerable Populations in Iraq 
and Iraqi Refugees.--The Secretary of State shall make every effort to 
ensure that the humanitarian needs of vulnerable populations in Iraq 
and Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries are met, including 
increased resources to improve the registration capabilities of 
nongovernmental organizations for such vulnerable populations and such 
refugees, adequate food, shelter, clean drinking water, sanitation, 
health care, education, and protection.
    (d) Authorizations of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
        $700,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009, 2010, and 2011 to 
        carry out this section. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this 
        authorization shall be in addition to amounts otherwise 
        available for such purposes.
            (2) For jordan.--
                    (A) In general.--In addition to amounts authorized 
                to be appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1), there is 
                authorized to be appropriated $500,000,000 for fiscal 
                year 2009 to Jordan to provide humanitarian assistance 
                to Iraqi refugees and to provide the necessary 
                infrastructure to support both the needs of Iraqi 
                refugees and the Jordanian people, such as for housing, 
                educational facilities, health clinics, improved access 
                to water resources and sanitation facilities and 
                related social services.
                    (B) Cooperation and monitoring.--In cooperation 
                with the Government of Jordan, the President shall 
                establish appropriate monitoring and transparency 
                mechanisms to ensure that funds appropriated pursuant 
                to the authorization of appropriations in subparagraph 
                (A) are effectively administered.
    (e) Exception.--Direct bilateral assistance may not be provided to 
Syria.

SEC. 7. IRAQI REFUGEE ADMISSIONS AND PROCESSING.

    (a) Numerical Limitations.--In addition to the numerical 
limitations provided for under subsections (a) and (b) of section 207 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157), the number of 
refugees who may be admitted during fiscal years 2009, 2010, and 2011 
under subsection (c) of such section shall be increased by not fewer 
than 20,000 for the purpose of admitting refugees who--
            (1) are citizens or nationals of Iraq; and
            (2) became refugees on or after March 19, 2003.
    (b) Processing Personnel Increase.--Not later than September 30, 
2009, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, shall, subject to the availability of appropriations 
for such purpose, have increased by 100 percent the number of Federal 
personnel in Iraq (and in other countries in the region, where 
appropriate) who are conducting security reviews of Iraqis who have 
applied for admission to the United States as refugees above the number 
of such personnel conducting such reviews on the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2009 
through 2011 to carry out this section.

SEC. 8. 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 Gulf Cooperation 
Council, the Arab League, the Organization of American States, the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and others to establish 
mechanisms to provide--
            (1) financial assistance to vulnerable populations in Iraq 
        and to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries through 
        bilateral assistance to host governments or through 
        international organizations that are working directly with such 
        populations and such refugees;
            (2) technical and financial assistance to international 
        organizations in order to process refugees; and
            (3) increased attention to and advocacy on behalf of 
        vulnerable populations in Iraq and Iraqi refugees in 
        neighboring countries by continuing to strongly support the 
        work of United Nations agencies and international organizations 
        providing protection and assistance.

SEC. 9. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, and every 6 months thereafter, the Secretary of State and the 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate a report on the implementation of this Act, 
including--
            (1) information concerning assistance and funding to host 
        countries and international organizations and nongovernmental 
        organizations pursuant to section 6, and accountability reports 
        regarding the expenditure of such funds;
            (2) information concerning measures taken by the United 
        States to increase its capabilities to process IDPs and Iraqi 
        refugees for resettlement and the number of such IDPs and 
        refugees resettled under section 7;
            (3) an evaluation of the effectiveness of measures 
        implemented by agencies of the Government of Iraq to provide 
        direct assistance to vulnerable populations in Iraq and Iraqi 
        refugees in neighboring countries; and
            (4) information concerning progress on the implementation 
        of the long-term comprehensive strategy described in section 
        5(2).
                                 <all>