[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 444 Engrossed in House (EH)]

<DOC>
H. Res. 444

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                    September 24, 2019.
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;
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.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.