[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 651 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 651
To modify provisions of law relating to refugee resettlement, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 13, 2013
Mr. Ellison (for himself, Ms. Schakowsky, and Mr. Moran) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary,
and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Ways and
Means, 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 modify provisions of law relating to refugee resettlement, 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 ``Strengthening
Refugee Resettlement Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Security checks.
Sec. 3. English language and work orientation training for approved
refugee applicants.
Sec. 4. Lawful permanent resident status of refugees and aliens granted
asylum.
Sec. 5. Update of reception and placement grants.
Sec. 6. Coordination of refugee program agencies.
Sec. 7. Case management.
Sec. 8. Increase in cash payments.
Sec. 9. Refugee integration grants.
Sec. 10. Matching grant program expansion.
Sec. 11. Domestic Emergency Refugee Resettlement Fund.
Sec. 12. Supplemental Security Income benefits.
Sec. 13. Making special immigrant juvenile status beneficiaries and
unaccompanied children granted ``U'' visa
protection eligible for refugee benefits.
SEC. 2. SECURITY CHECKS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--Although effective security checks are
needed to ensure that the United States and the Nation's refugee
admissions program are adequately protected, it is the sense of the
Congress that the failure to properly coordinate security and non-
security clearance procedures has had negative impacts on the
processing of vulnerable individuals who are in need of, and eligible
for, resettlement to the United States.
(b) Review of Refugee Processing.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security shall work with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies,
including the Department of State, to conduct a review of refugee
processing, including security clearances, with the goal of
streamlining processing, consistent with maintaining thorough security
vetting.
(c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the
Congress a report on the results of the review conducted under
subsection (b). The report shall include a description of recommended
changes to streamline processing and the costs associated with any
unfunded needs.
SEC. 3. ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND WORK ORIENTATION TRAINING FOR APPROVED
REFUGEE APPLICANTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall establish overseas
refugee training programs to provide English as a second language and
work orientation training for refugees who have been approved for
admission to the United States before their departure for the United
States.
(b) Design and Implementation.--In designing and implementing the
programs referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult
with or use--
(1) nongovernmental or international organizations with
direct ties to the United States refugee resettlement program;
and
(2) nongovernmental or international organizations with
appropriate expertise in developing curriculum and teaching
English as a second language.
(c) Impact on Processing Times.--The Secretary shall ensure that
such training programs occur within applicable processing times and do
not unduly delay the departure for the United States of refugees who
have been approved for admission to the United States.
(d) Timeline for Implementation.--
(1) Initial implementation.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
ensure that such training programs are fully and continually
operational in at least 3 refugee processing regions.
(2) Additional implementation.--Not later than 2 years
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall notify the appropriate congressional committees that such
training programs are fully and consistently operational in 5
refugee processing regions.
(e) GAO Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall conduct a study on the implementation of this section, including
an assessment of the quality of English as a second language curriculum
and instruction, the benefits of the work orientation and English as a
second language training program to refugees, and recommendations on
whether such programs should be continued, broadened, or modified, and
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on
the findings of such study.
(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to require that a refugee participate in such a training
program as a precondition for the admission to the United States of
such refugee.
SEC. 4. LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS OF REFUGEES AND ALIENS GRANTED
ASYLUM.
(a) Admission of Emergency Situation Refugees.--Section 207(c) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``Attorney General'' the first time
it appears and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland
Security'';
(B) by striking ``Attorney General'' each
additional place it appears and inserting
``Secretary''; and
(C) by striking ``(except as otherwise provided
under paragraph (3)) as an immigrant under this Act.''
and inserting ``(except as provided under subsections
(b) and (c) of section 209) as an immigrant under this
Act. Notwithstanding any numerical limitations
specified in this Act, any alien admitted under this
paragraph shall be regarded as lawfully admitted to the
United States for permanent residence as of the date of
such alien's admission to the United States.'';
(2) in paragraph (2)(A)--
(A) by striking ``(except as otherwise provided
under paragraph (3))'' and inserting ``(except as
provided under subsections (b) and (c) of section
209)''; and
(B) by striking the last sentence and inserting the
following: ``An alien admitted to the United States as
a refugee may petition for his or her spouse or child
to follow to join him or her in the United States at
any time after such alien's admission, notwithstanding
his or her treatment as a lawful permanent resident as
of the date of his or her admission to the United
States.'';
(3) by striking paragraph (3);
(4) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3); and
(5) in paragraph (3), as redesignated--
(A) by striking ``Attorney General'' the first
place it appears and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland
Security''; and
(B) by striking ``Attorney General'' each
additional place it appears and inserting
``Secretary''.
(b) Treatment of Spouse and Children.--Section 208(b)(3) of such
Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(3)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (E);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) Petition.--An alien granted asylum under this
subsection may petition for the same status to be
conferred on his or her spouse or child at any time
after such alien is granted asylum whether or not such
alien has applied for, or been granted, adjustment to
permanent resident status under section 209.
``(C) Permanent resident status.--Notwithstanding
any numerical limitations specified in this Act, a
spouse or child admitted to the United States as an
asylee following to join a spouse or parent previously
granted asylum shall be regarded as lawfully admitted
to the United States for permanent residence as of the
date of such spouse's or child's admission to the
United States.
``(D) Application for adjustment of status.--A
spouse or child who was not admitted to the United
States pursuant to a grant of asylum, but who was
granted asylum under this subparagraph after his or her
arrival as the spouse or child of an alien granted
asylum under section 208, may apply for adjustment of
status to that of lawful permanent resident under
section 209 at any time after being granted asylum.''.
(c) Refugees.--Section 209 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1159) is amended
to read as follows:
``SEC. 209. TREATMENT OF ALIENS ADMITTED AS REFUGEES AND ALIENS GRANTED
ASYLUM.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Treatment of refugees.--Notwithstanding any numerical
limitations specified in this Act, any alien who has been
admitted to the United States under section 207 shall be
regarded as lawfully admitted to the United States for
permanent residence as of the date of such admission.
``(2) Treatment of spouse and children.--Notwithstanding
any numerical limitations specified in this Act, any alien
admitted to the United States under section 208(b)(3) as the
spouse or child of an alien granted asylum under section
208(b)(1) shall be regarded as lawfully admitted to the United
States for permanent residence as of the date of such
admission.
``(3) Adjustment of status.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security or the Attorney General, in the discretion of the
Secretary or the Attorney General, and under such regulations
as the Secretary or the Attorney General may prescribe, may
adjust, to the status of an alien lawfully admitted to the
United States for permanent residence, the status of any alien
who, while in the United States--
``(A) is granted--
``(i) asylum under section 208(b) (as a
principal alien or as the spouse or child of an
alien granted asylum); or
``(ii) refugee status under section 207 as
the spouse or child of a refugee;
``(B) applies for such adjustment of status at any
time after being granted asylum or refugee status;
``(C) is not firmly resettled in any foreign
country; and
``(D) is admissible (except as otherwise provided
under subsections (b) and (c)) as an immigrant under
this Act at the time of examination for adjustment of
such alien.
``(4) Record.--Upon approval of an application under this
subsection, the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney
General shall establish a record of the alien's admission for
lawful permanent residence as of the date such alien was
granted asylum or refugee status.
``(5) Document issuance.--An alien who has been admitted to
the United States under section 207 or 208 or who adjusts to
the status of a lawful permanent resident as a refugee or
asylee under this section shall be issued documentation
indicating that such alien is a lawful permanent resident
pursuant to a grant of refugee or asylum status.
``(b) Inapplicability of Certain Inadmissibility Grounds to
Refugees, Aliens Granted Asylum, and Such Aliens Seeking Adjustment of
Status to Lawful Permanent Resident.--Paragraphs (4), (5), and (7)(A)
of section 212(a) shall not apply to--
``(1) any refugee under section 207;
``(2) any alien granted asylum under section 208; or
``(3) any alien seeking admission as a lawful permanent
resident pursuant to a grant of refugee or asylum status.
``(c) Waiver of Inadmissibility or Deportability for Refugees,
Aliens Granted Asylum, and Such Aliens Seeking Adjustment of Status to
Lawful Permanent Resident.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General may
waive any ground of inadmissibility under section 212 or any
ground of deportability under section 237 for a refugee
admitted under section 207, an alien granted asylum under
section 208, or an alien seeking admission as a lawful
permanent resident pursuant to a grant of refugee or asylum
status if the Secretary or the Attorney General determines that
such waiver is justified by humanitarian purposes, to ensure
family unity, or is otherwise in the public interest.
``(2) Ineligibility.--A refugee under section 207, an alien
granted asylum under section 208, or an alien seeking admission
as a lawful permanent resident pursuant to a grant of refugee
or asylum status shall be ineligible for a waiver under
paragraph (1) if it has been established that the alien is--
``(A) inadmissible under section 212(a)(2)(C) or
subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (E) of section
212(a)(3);
``(B) deportable under section 237(a)(2)(A)(iii)
for an offense described in section 101(a)(43)(B); or
``(C) deportable under subparagraph (A), (B), (C),
or (D) of section 237(a)(4).''.
(d) Technical Amendments.--
(1) Aliens not subject to direct numerical limitations.--
Section 201(b)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
``(B) Aliens who are admitted to the United States as
permanent residents under section 207 or 208 or whose status is
adjusted under section 209.''.
(2) Training.--Section 207(f)(1) of such Act (8 U.S.C.
1157(f)(1)) is amended by striking ``Attorney General'' and
inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security''.
(3) Table of contents.--The table of contents for such Act
is amended by striking the item relating to section 209 and
inserting the following:
``Sec. 209. Treatment of aliens admitted as refugees and aliens granted
asylum.''.
(e) Savings Provisions.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in the amendments made by this
section may be construed to limit access to the benefits
described at chapter 2 of title IV of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1521 et seq.).
(2) Clarification.--Aliens admitted for lawful permanent
residence under section 207 or 208 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157; 1158) or who adjust status to
lawful permanent resident under section 209 of such Act (8
U.S.C. 1159) shall be considered to be refugees and aliens
granted asylum in accordance with sections 402, 403, 412, and
431 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612; 1613; 1622; 1641).
(f) Effective Date.--This section, and the amendments made by this
section, shall become effective on the earlier of--
(1) the date that is 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act; or
(2) the date on which a final rule is promulgated to
implement this section.
SEC. 5. UPDATE OF RECEPTION AND PLACEMENT GRANTS.
Beginning with fiscal year 2014, the Secretary of State shall, when
setting the amount of the reception and placement grants for refugees,
ensure that--
(1) the grant amount is adjusted so that it is adequate to
provide for the anticipated initial resettlement needs of
refugees, including adjusting the amount for inflation and the
cost of living;
(2) the administrative proportion of the grant is provided
at the beginning of the fiscal year to each national
resettlement agency that is sufficient to ensure adequate local
and national capacity to serve the initial resettlement needs
of refugees the Secretary anticipates the agency will resettle
throughout the fiscal year; and
(3) additional amounts are provided to each national
resettlement agency promptly upon the arrival of refugees that,
exclusive of the amounts provided pursuant to paragraph (2),
are sufficient to meet the anticipated initial resettlement
needs of such refugees and support local and national
operational costs in excess of the estimates described in
paragraph (1).
SEC. 6. COORDINATION OF REFUGEE PROGRAM AGENCIES.
It is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) the President should appoint a White House Coordinator
on Refugee Protection and grant such official the authority and
staff necessary to coordinate, prioritize, and lead efforts to
address refugee protection issues that involve multiple
agencies, including the refugee admissions program, and to
resolve interagency differences in a timely, efficient, and
effective manner; and
(2) this position should be at a senior level and require
as a condition for appointment a significant level of prior
experience in the refugee protection field.
SEC. 7. CASE MANAGEMENT.
(a) In General.--
(1) Establishment of grant program.--The Director of the
Office of Refugee Resettlement shall make grants to national
resettlement agencies to operate a case management system to
assist qualified individuals in accessing services, benefits,
and assistance for which they are eligible that are provided
by--
(A) the Office of Refugee Resettlement (the
``Office'');
(B) other Federal, State, or local agencies; and
(C) private or nonprofit organizations.
(2) Qualified individuals.--Subject to paragraphs (3) and
(4), any individual who was at any time eligible for
resettlement, acculturation, or subsistence services provided
by the Office shall be qualified to receive the case management
services described in paragraph (1).
(3) Period of qualification.--Except as provided in
paragraph (4), an individual described in paragraph (2) shall
be qualified to receive the case management services described
in paragraph (1) during the period beginning on the date such
individual was determined to be eligible for resettlement,
acculturation, or subsistence services provided by the Office,
and continuing for 1 year after the date on which such
individual ceases to be eligible for such resettlement,
acculturation, or subsistence service.
(4) Exceptions for exceptional circumstances.--
(A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (3), an
individual described in subparagraph (B) shall be
qualified to receive the case management services
described in paragraph (1) during the period beginning
on the date on which such individual was determined
eligible for resettlement, acculturation, or
subsistence services provided by the Office, and
continuing for 3 years after the date on which such
individual ceases to be eligible for such resettlement,
acculturation, or subsistence services.
(B) Exceptional circumstances.--An individual
described in paragraph (2) may be treated in accordance
with subparagraph (A) if such individual--
(i) is elderly;
(ii) has extraordinary resettlement or
acculturation needs that impede such
individual's ability to achieve durable self-
sufficiency;
(iii) is a refugee who was resettled from a
situation of protracted displacement;
(iv) is a member of a family caring for an
unattached refugee minor; or
(v) at the time of entry--
(I) had a disability or serious
medical condition;
(II) had mental health conditions;
(III) was part of a household
headed by a single parent; or
(IV) had been the victim of a
severe form of violence.
(5) Definition of resettlement, acculturation, or
subsistence services.--For the purposes of this section, the
term, ``resettlement, acculturation, or subsistence services''
shall include all of the services provided by the Office to
aliens, with the exception of the case management services
provided under paragraph (1).
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
(c) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as
affecting the authority of the Director under section 412(e)(7)(A) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1522(e)(7)(A)), or of any
other section of such Act, to provide case management services to
individuals who have been in the United States for longer than 36
months.
SEC. 8. INCREASE IN CASH PAYMENTS.
(a) Section 412 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1522) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by adding at the end the
following:
``(iv) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated
for this purpose, assistance and social services for
employment, health and living expenses shall be available for a
period of not less than 12 months.'';
(2) in subsection (a)(5), by adding at the end the
following: ``Subject to the availability of funds appropriated
for this purpose, assistance and services shall be made
available to refugees for a period of not less than 12
months.''; and
(3) in subsection (e)(1)--
(A) by striking ``(1)'' and inserting ``(1)(A)'';
and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this
purpose, such assistance shall be provided for a minimum of 12 months
beginning with the first month in which such refugee entered the United
States.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
become effective on the earlier of--
(1) the first day of the first fiscal year that begins
after the date of the enactment of this Act; or
(2) the date on which a final rule is promulgated to
implement this section.
(c) Rule of Construction.--The 12-month specification contained in
the amendments made by subsection (a) is a minimum standard for the
provision of services to the refugee community. No part of this Act
shall be interpreted as limiting or reducing assistance already
provided for a period longer than 12 months.
SEC. 9. REFUGEE INTEGRATION GRANTS.
(a) Establishment of Refugee Integration Grants.--The Director of
the Office of Refugee Resettlement is authorized to award grants to
community-based organizations, national nonprofit organizations having
experience and expertise in immigration law and the legal, social,
educational, or cultural needs of immigrants, and national resettlement
agencies for the design and implementation of programs to offer
training and orientation to newcomers to the United States to assist
them in integrating into the civic life of the United States.
(b) Services Funded.--Programs funded under subsection (a) shall be
used--
(1) to offer assistance and instruction to aliens described
in subsection (c), on--
(A) the naturalization process;
(B) the legal requirements for naturalization;
(C) rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens;
(D) cultural orientation;
(E) English as a second language;
(F) civics and United States history;
(G) housing;
(H) transportation;
(I) recertification;
(J) employment training;
(K) mental health services;
(L) childcare services; and
(M) other topics the Director identifies as aiding
the orientation and adjustment of new arrivals to the
United States;
(2) to offer orientation and assistance to Federal, State,
and local institutions that serve newcomers to the United
States so as to assist such institutions in meeting their
needs; and
(3) to provide technical assistance and training to
community-based organizations providing instruction in English
as a second language, civics, and United States history and
technical assistance and training to community-based
organizations providing naturalization outreach and application
assistance.
(c) Eligible Persons.--Persons eligible for assistance and
instruction under this subsection include--
(1) aliens admitted as refugees under section 207 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157);
(2) aliens granted asylum under section 208 of such Act (8
U.S.C. 1158);
(3) aliens admitted as special immigrants from Iraq or
Afghanistan pursuant to section 1244 of Public Law 110-181;
(4) any alien who was at any time eligible to receive
services from the Office of Refugee Resettlement; and
(5) other aliens designated by the Director of the Office
of Refugee Resettlement.
(d) Application for Grants.--Each entity desiring a refugee
integration grant under this section shall submit an application to the
Director at such time and in such manner as the Director may require.
(e) Priority.--In selecting grantees, the Director shall give
priority to organizations either with experience in resettling refugees
or in administering services for refugees and asylum seekers.
(f) Reports to Congress.--Beginning 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director shall
report to the Judiciary Committees of the Senate and the House of
Representatives a report on the implementation of this section. The
report shall include information regarding the grants issued pursuant
to this section and the results of those grants.
SEC. 10. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM EXPANSION.
(a) Use of the Refugee Matching Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--In recognition of the positive outcomes
achieved for individuals served through the refugee matching
grant program, under which Federal funds are matched by private
sector contributions of cash, goods, and volunteers, the
Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement shall ensure
that the thresholds described in paragraph (2) are met with
respect to participation by eligible individuals in such
program.
(2) Annual thresholds.--
(A) In general.--Subject to the availability of
funds appropriated for this purpose, the percentage of
eligible individuals who apply for services under the
matching grant program who shall be served through such
program is set at the following levels in each of the
following fiscal years--
(i) at least 60 percent in fiscal year
2014;
(ii) at least 70 percent in fiscal year
2015; and
(iii) at least 80 percent in fiscal year
2016, and thereafter.
(B) Exceptions.--In determining the thresholds in
this paragraph, the Director shall exclude individuals
who are disabled, under the age of 18, or over the age
of 65 unless such individuals are being served as
members of an eligible family.
(3) Length of eligibility for grant.--Individuals as
described in subparagraph (2)(B) shall be eligible for services
under the matching grant program, and therefore be expected to
achieve self-sufficiency, within 180 to 240 days of their
enrollment in the program.
(4) Amount of grant.--
(A) Annual update.--Subject to the availability of
funds appropriated for this purpose, beginning with
fiscal year 2014, the Director shall, when setting the
amount of the matching grants, ensure that the grant
amount is adjusted annually so that it is adequate to
provide for services intended to help refugees become
self-sufficient within 180 to 240 days, including
adjusting the amount for inflation and the cost of
living.
(B) Assessment.--Not later than 30 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall
undertake an assessment of the per capita amount that
is provided in the matching grant program. The
assessment shall--
(i) examine the adequacy of the current per
capita grant amount to provide the assistance
necessary to enable individuals who are served
by the program to achieve self-sufficiency
within 240 days;
(ii) determine the per capita grant amount
that would be necessary in order to provide the
assistance necessary to enable individuals who
are served by the program achieve self-
sufficiency within 240 days;
(iii) assess the potential impact of any
other changes to the operation of the program
that the Director or the Office's non-Federal
partners suggest to improve the effectiveness
of the program.
(C) Consultation with partners.--In conducting the
assessment referred to in subparagraph (B), the
Director shall consult with representatives of national
and local resettlement agencies with experience in
providing services under the matching grant program to
learn their views on the program, including their views
with respect to clauses (i) through (iv) of
subparagraph (B).
(D) Report to congress.--Not later than 120 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director
shall report to the appropriate committees of Congress
the results of the assessment made pursuant to
subparagraph (B). Such report shall include--
(i) the Director's findings pursuant to
subparagraph (B);
(ii) the amount of the per capita grant
that will be provided beginning on the first
day of the first fiscal year that begins after
the date of enactment of this Act; and
(iii) a summary of the views expressed by
the entities described in subparagraph (C).
(E) Grant amount in absence of report.--If for any
reason the report described in subparagraph (D) is not
filed with the appropriate committees of the Congress
on or before the required date for the submission of
such report, the per capita matching grant amount for
the first fiscal year that begins after the date of
enactment of this Act shall be set at the amount set
for such grant on September 30 of the previous fiscal
year and prorated to reflect a 180- to 240-day grant
period.
SEC. 11. DOMESTIC EMERGENCY REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT FUND.
(a) In General.--There is established a Domestic Emergency Refugee
Resettlement Fund that shall be available to the Director of the Office
of Refugee Resettlement to meet unanticipated resettlement needs.
(b) Drawdown of Funds.--Whenever the Director determines it to be
important to the national interest, the Director is authorized to
furnish on such terms and conditions as the Director may determine,
assistance under this chapter for the purpose of meeting unexpected
urgent resettlement needs of populations and communities served
pursuant to this chapter, including communities experiencing high
numbers of arrivals of refugees due to secondary migration.
(c) Allowable Uses.--The Director may furnish assistance to
eligible entities for the purposes of providing resettlement assistance
to refugees, including transportation, housing, employment, health,
mental health, English language training services, recertification, and
other purposes as determined by the Director.
(d) Eligible Entities Defined.--National resettlement agencies,
community-based organizations, torture survivor rehabilitation centers
and programs, and States.
(e) Congressional Notification.--No amounts may be withdrawn from
the fund authorized by subsection (a) unless the Director has
determined that a domestic resettlement emergency exists and has
certified such fact to appropriate committees of Congress.
(f) Cap on Fund.--No funds may be appropriated which when added to
the amounts previously appropriated but not yet obligated, would cause
such amounts to exceed $50,000,000.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--Funds appropriated pursuant
to this section shall be available until expended.
SEC. 12. SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME BENEFITS.
Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) is
amended--
(1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
``(A) Exception for refugees and asylees.--With
respect to the specified Federal programs described in
paragraph (3), paragraph (1) shall not apply to--
``(i) an alien admitted to the United
States as a refugee under section 207 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act 8 U.S.C. 1157;
``(ii) an alien granted asylum under
section 208 of such Act 8 U.S.C. 1158;
``(iii) an alien whose deportation is
withheld under section 243(h) of such Act 8
U.S.C. 1253 (as in effect immediately before
the effective date of section 307 of division C
of Public Law 104-208) or section 241(b)(3) of
such Act 8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3) (as amended by
section 305(a) of division C of Public Law 104-
208);
``(iv) an alien who is granted status as a
Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined in
section 501(e) of the Refugee Education
Assistance Act of 1980); or
``(v) an alien who is admitted to the
United States as an Amerasian immigrant
pursuant to section 584 of the Foreign
Operations, Export Financing, and Related
Programs Appropriations Act, 1988 (as contained
in section 101(e) of Public Law 100-202 and
amended by the 9th proviso under migration and
refugee assistance in title II of the Foreign
Operations, Export Financing, and Related
Programs Appropriations Act, 1989, Public Law
100-461, as amended).''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(N) SSI benefits for certain aliens and victims
of trafficking.--Beginning on the date of the enactment
of this subparagraph, any qualified alien (as defined
in section 431(b)), victim of trafficking in persons
(as defined in section 107(b)(1)(C) of division A of
the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act
of 2000 (Public Law 106-386)), or alien granted status
under section 101(a)(15)(T)(ii) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(T)(ii)) rendered
ineligible for the specified Federal program described
in paragraph (3)(A) solely by reason of the termination
of the 7-year period described in subparagraph (A)
prior to the enactment of this subparagraph shall be
eligible for benefits under such program without regard
to subparagraph (A).''.
SEC. 13. MAKING SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS BENEFICIARIES AND
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN GRANTED ``U'' VISA PROTECTION
ELIGIBLE FOR FOSTER CARE AND REFUGEE BENEFITS.
(a) In General.--Section 235(d)(4) of the William Wilberforce
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C.
1232(d)(4)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) by striking ``either'';
(B) by striking ``or who'' and inserting a comma;
(C) by inserting ``, or has been granted status
under section 101(a)(15)(U) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(U))'' before ``,
shall''; and
(D) by striking ``be eligible for'' and inserting
``receive''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or status under
section 101(a)(15)(U) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(U)),'' after ``(8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J))''.
(b) Eligibility for Benefits and Services.--Section 107(b)(1)(A) of
the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (22
U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ``, an alien who has been
granted special immigrant status under section 101(a)(27)(J) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)), a child who
has been granted status under section 101(a)(15)(U) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15(U)),'' after ``trafficking in
persons,''.
(c) State Reimbursement.--Subject to the availability of funds
appropriated for this purpose, if State foster care funds are expended
on behalf of a child who has been granted special immigrant status
under section 101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)), the Federal Government shall reimburse the
State in which the child resides for such expenditures by the State.
<all>