[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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