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

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 444

Reaffirming the importance of the United States to promote the safety, 
       health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 14, 2019

 Mr. Ted Lieu of California (for himself, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Neguse, and 
Mr. Diaz-Balart) submitted the following resolution; 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Reaffirming the importance of the United States to promote the safety, 
       health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons.

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 2017, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for 
        Refugees--

    (1) there were more than 68,500,000 displaced persons worldwide, the 
worst displacement crisis in global history, including more than 25,400,000 
refugees, over 40,000,000 internally displaced persons, and 3,100,000 
people seeking asylum;

    (2) on average, 44,400 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) 16,200,000 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 52 percent 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) 68 percent of all refugees came from Syria, Afghanistan, South 
Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia, including 6,300,000 refugees from Syria alone;

    (8) there were more than 12,600,000 forcibly displaced Syrians, 
including 6,300,000 refugees, 6,200,000 internally displaced people, and 
146,700 asylum-seekers; and

    (9) 85 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.
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