[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H4705-H4707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING WORLD REFUGEE DAY

  Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1350) recognizing June 20, 2010, as World 
Refugee Day, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1350

       Whereas World Refugee Day was first observed on June 20, 
     2001;
       Whereas tens of thousands of people around the world take 
     time to recognize the challenges and applaud the 
     contributions of forcibly displaced persons throughout the 
     world;
       Whereas the annual commemoration of World Refugee Day is 
     marked by a variety of events in more than 100 countries, 
     involving government officials, humanitarian workers and 
     volunteers, celebrities, and the forcibly displaced;
       Whereas refugees are people who have been forced to flee 
     their countries due to a well-founded fear of persecution 
     based on their political opinions, religious beliefs, race, 
     nationality, or membership in a particular social group;
       Whereas internally displaced persons are those who have 
     fled their homes or been uprooted but remain within the 
     borders of their country;
       Whereas of the 42,000,000 displaced persons worldwide, the 
     United Nations Refugee Agency assists over 25,000,000, 
     including 10,000,000 refugees and more than 14,000,000 
     internally displaced persons;
       Whereas these vulnerable individuals rely on the United 
     States, other governments, the United Nations, and numerous 
     nongovernmental relief agencies for the protection of their 
     basic human rights;
       Whereas Somali refugees have lived in camps in Kenya since 
     the early 1990s;
       Whereas Burmese refugees have lived in camps inside 
     Thailand since the mid-1980s;
       Whereas decades of violence in Afghanistan have produced 
     almost 3,000,000 refugees;
       Whereas decades of violence caused by extremist groups 
     forced up to 400,000 Colombians to seek refuge in other 
     countries and produced 3,000,000 internally displaced persons 
     within Colombia;
       Whereas more than 4,000,000 Iraqis are displaced within 
     their country and in the region, including Chaldeans and 
     other minorities;
       Whereas more than 2,000,000 people have been displaced by 
     conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
       Whereas ongoing conflict and violence in Sudan have forced 
     more than 1,000,000 people to become internally displaced 
     within Sudan and another 250,000 to flee to Chad;
       Whereas some 150,000 Sudanese have sought protection in 
     other countries around the world;
       Whereas North Korean refugees inside China face 
     trafficking, sexual exploitation, and forcible repatriation 
     back to North Korea where they are tortured, imprisoned, and 
     severely punished;
       Whereas 2010 marks the 30th anniversary of the Refugee Act 
     of 1980, the cornerstone of the United States' system of 
     refugee protection and assistance;
       Whereas the United States continues to be the single 
     largest refugee resettlement country in the world; and
       Whereas the United States is the largest single donor to 
     the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for 
     Refugees: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to 
     promote the safety, health, and well-being of the millions of 
     refugees who flee war, famine, persecution, and torture in 
     search of peace, nourishment, hope, and freedom;
       (2) calls on the Department of State to continue to support 
     the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for 
     Refugees and to advance the work of nongovernmental 
     organizations, especially those that also have expertise in 
     resettlement, to protect refugees;
       (3) calls on the United States Government to continue its 
     international leadership role in response to those who have 
     been displaced, including the most vulnerable populations who 
     endure sexual violence, human trafficking, forced 
     conscription, genocide, and exploitation;
       (4) commends those who have risked their lives working 
     individually and for the multitude of nongovernmental 
     organizations, along with the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees, who have provided life-saving 
     assistance and helped protect those displaced by conflict 
     around the world; 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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I am grateful for the opportunity to speak today on H. Res. 1350, a 
resolution I introduced to recognize World Refugee Day as June 20, 
2010. This special day, first marked in 2001, is held every year on 
June 20. Tens of thousands of people around the world take time to 
recognize the plight of forcibly displaced people throughout the world. 
The annual commemoration is marked by a variety of events in more than 
100 countries involving government officials, humanitarian aid workers, 
celebrities, civilians, and those who were forcibly displaced 
themselves.
  With the humanitarian efforts of the United States, other nations, 
and organizations like the United Nations High Commissioner for 
Refugees, the Red Cross, the International Rescue Committee, and 
Refugees International, among so many others, refugees are able to flee 
from persecution, violence, and war in order to seek protection. Many 
have fled to the United States, a safe haven with a history of aiding 
those seeking protection from persecution, violence, and war. America 
has provided more assistance to refugees seeking protection than any 
other country.
  If you have ever met a refugee, you have encountered someone who has 
overcome great obstacles simply to just survive. Take the case of a 
Somali refugee, Abdul Samatar, a young man with a childhood full of 
tragedy and life-threatening experiences who eventually took refuge in 
the United States. Abdul was born in 1984 in Somalia, at that time a 
peaceful land of great beauty, promise, and resources. Now, however, 
Somalia is overwhelmed by famine, war and violence, leaving no persons 
unaffected.
  In 1992, Abdul's father, a religious leader in Mogadishu, the 
capital, was shot and killed during the civil war.

[[Page H4706]]

After his death, Abdul lived the life of a nomad. He was afraid that, 
like his father, he would be killed by a rival tribe. He fled across 
the Somalia-Kenya border to Mandera, Kenya. Thanks to the generosity of 
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, he was provided with 
food and assistance in Mandera for 2\1/2\ years. Fortunately, while 
Abdul was in Nairobi, he was introduced to a refugee coordinator at the 
United States Embassy who, along with two other citizens, helped Abdul 
move to the United States. An example of success, Abdul graduated from 
high school in 2004 and graduated from university in May 2010 with a 
degree in American studies. With this education, Abdul intends to make 
a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. Yes, Madam Speaker, 
stories like that of Abdul attest to the success of our refugee program 
and give merit to recognizing June 20, 2010, as World Refugee Day.
  And I just want to include that on last Friday, we were at the State 
Department. We had Abdul and his family there. And along with our 
Secretary of State, we celebrated, and we commended those who were 
involved in World Refugee Day.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan H. Res. 1350.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of House Resolution 
1350. And I want to thank my good friend and colleague from California, 
Ambassador Watson, for introducing this worthy measure.

                              {time}  1310

  This issue is important to me not just as the ranking member of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee or as a Member who represents one of the top 
20 refugee resettlement areas in the United States, but also as a 
former refugee. Refugees have been a core component of our wonderful 
Nation since its creation. Whether they were early colonists fleeing 
religious persecution in Europe or families of the 20th century fleeing 
Communist tyranny, as mine fled the Castro regime, refugees have found 
in this great Nation safety, freedom, and opportunity.
  From the Displaced Persons Act of 1948 to the Refugees Act of 1980 
until today, I am proud of the work that Congress has done over the 
years to keep refugee protection a priority of our government. 
Traditionally, the United States has resettled more refugees on an 
annual basis than the rest of the world combined. But our country also 
lives up to its own highest ideals when we reach out overseas to help 
and protect those most vulnerable of the vulnerables, those forced from 
their home by persecution. Whether due to the ethnic, sectarian, or 
political conflict in Africa or the Middle East, or repression by 
regimes like those in Burma, North Korea, or Sudan, tens of millions of 
children, women, and men around the world stand in need of food, 
shelter, and protection.
  Because of this vulnerability, they are also prime targets for 
dehumanizing forms of exploitation and human trafficking. By supporting 
the work of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and the many 
dedicated nongovernmental organizations, the people of the United 
States continue to show our generosity toward the displaced and the 
vulnerable.
  World Refugee Day, observed for the 10th time this past weekend, is a 
fitting time for us to reflect on these dire human needs, to commend 
the bravery and service of those who assist refugees in insecure 
circumstances around the world, and to recommit ourselves to the 
protection of displaced populations as a humanitarian and human rights 
priority. For these reasons, Madam Speaker, I support Ambassador 
Watson's measure, and I urge its prompt adoption.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my cosponsor. I think that 
her stories, too, are very compelling. We join strongly together on 
this piece of legislation.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
H. Res. 1350, recognizing June 20, 2010, as World Refugee Day. I thank 
my colleague, Ms. Watson, for introducing this resolution that reminds 
us of the importance of protecting those who are vulnerable and finding 
a home for those who are displaced.
  The theme of this year's World Refugee Day on June 20, 2010 is 
``Home,'' in recognition of the plight of more than 40 million uprooted 
and displaced people around the world; approximately 10 million of whom 
are refugees of special concern to UNHCR.
  As a Member of the Bipartisan Congressional Refugee Caucus, I have 
continuously stood up for the rights of the world's refugees. Today, 
there are more than 42 million refugees, including 16 million refugees 
outside their countries and 26 million others displaced internally.
  This year, I am especially concerned for the people of Haiti--many of 
whom are facing the rainy season without a suitable home. According to 
Refugees International, approximately 700,000 people in Port-au-Prince 
are without homes or proper shelter and another 600,000 people have 
left the capital.
  I also welcome the announcement from the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, that 100,000 people having 
been referred for resettlement from the Middle East to third countries 
since 2007.
  From Iraq and Afghanistan, to Sudan and the Congo, to Burma and 
Colombia, the United Nations Refugee Agency, with ample support from 
the United States, manages to support over 25 million. Indeed, these 
vulnerable individuals depend on the United States, other governments, 
the United Nations and other agencies for the protection of their basic 
human rights.
  The United States is in fact a global leader in the protection of 
refugees and internally displaced persons. In the year 2010 the United 
States celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, a 
cornerstone of refugee protection and assistance which has brought the 
United States to be the single largest refugee resettlement country in 
the world, admitting a total of 65,722 in 2007. Moreover, the United 
States is the single largest donor to the Office of the United Nations 
High Commissioner for Refugees.
  Madam Speaker, I urge every one of my fellow members of Congress to 
join Congresswoman Watson and me in reaffirming the commitment of the 
United States to promote the safety, health, and well-being of millions 
of refugees, calling on the Department of State to continue to support 
the efforts of the U.N. High Commissioner for refugees, call on the 
U.S. Government to continue to strengthen its leadership role in 
protecting displaced persons, commending those who have risked their 
lives working to provide assistance to refugees, and reaffirming the 
goals of World Refugee Day. These are vulnerable people, people in 
need. Let us not forget them or our promise to find an end to their 
plight.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1350, 
recognizing June 20, 2010 as World Refugee Day. According to the United 
Nations, more than 40 million people worldwide have been displaced from 
their respective lands. It is important that we recognize the plight of 
those around the globe who no longer have a place to call home.
  The world refugee crisis is a widespread tragedy, the result of 
political upheaval, war, genocide, and natural calamities. And, as much 
as world refugee day commends these brave individuals, it is also a 
tribute to those who devote their lives to relieve the suffering of 
refugees.
  Unfortunately, the NGOs that provide much-needed services for 
refugees are working with a rapidly-growing population of refugees and 
under increasingly dangerous conditions.
  Today, terrorism is one of the leading causes of families being 
uprooted from their homes. We see this phenomenon throughout Africa, 
Afghanistan and particularly in Northwest Frontier Province of 
Pakistan. Unfortunately, millions now live in fear as Al-Qaeda and the 
Taliban attempt to spread their extremism, while targeting those relief 
workers that work to feed and clothe these victims.
  This year there is added significance on World Refugee Day because 
2010 is the 30th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980. With this 
resolution, tie United States will join over one hundred countries in 
recognizing the struggles of those who have been displaced from their 
homes and the NGO community that works to help them.
  Alongside the United Nations, the U.S. Department of State is at the 
forefront of aiding nongovernmental organizations in helping refugees.
  I urge the House of Representatives to keep in mind today the 40 
million refugees across the world, of which 17 million of whom are 
children.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to stand up and recognize 
World Refugee Day and to ensure that the United States continues to be 
an international leader in this regard.

[[Page H4707]]

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my 
strong support of H. Res. 1350 which recognizes June 20, 2010 as World 
Refugee Day. I want to thank Congresswoman Watson for her 
acknowledgement of this important day by introducing this resolution to 
Congress.
  The U.N. Refugee Agency defines a refugee as a person who has fled 
their country of nationality and who is unable or unwilling to return 
to that country because of a ``well-founded'' fear of persecution based 
on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a 
particular social group. Hostilities across the world make refugees 
truly a global concern. Whether the refugees are fleeing government 
oppression in Sudan or Iran, or fleeing intra-communal fighting, there 
needs to be more attention given to these displaced and struggling 
individuals. I believe that this resolution is an outstanding way to 
recognize the severity of refugees' varying situations by celebrating 
World Refugee Day.
  In fact, the reinstitution of many refugees from abroad has happened 
within the 4th District of Georgia. In 2000, Clarkston, Georgia had the 
highest percentage of people from Somalia in the United States who 
sought refuge here from this hostile region. Additionally, I am very 
proud that numerous national, and international organizations servicing 
refugees call the 4th District of Georgia and metropolitan Atlanta 
home.
  Finally, refugees also affect our nation due to the fact the United 
States is the single largest refugee resettlement country in the world. 
Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1350 to express our 
support and protection for refugees internationally, as well as those 
now residing within our own nation's borders.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.
  Ms. WATSON. I have no further requests for time, Madam Speaker, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1350, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________