[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 11, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H3166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1951 U.N. REFUGEE CONVENTION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Chu) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 60th 
anniversary of the 1951 Convention related to the Status of Refugees. 
The Convention was historic in spelling out a set of basic human rights 
that should be afforded a refugee. It was initially directed toward 
European refugees in the aftermath of World War II, but was expanded in 
1967 to include refugees from all around the world. The U.N. Convention 
defines who a refugee is, and outlines assistance that refugees should 
receive. It stipulates that refugees should not be returned to a 
country where they fear persecution.
  My district in the San Gabriel Valley of California is home to a 
large and diverse refugee population who fled persecution from 
countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. In Los Angeles County 
they come from places as far as Iran to El Salvador.
  Since arriving on our shores, many of the refugees have established 
themselves as civic leaders, small business owners and hardworking 
Americans. Some are working with resettlement agencies to help new 
refugee populations integrate, settle their families, and restart their 
lives.
  The open arms with which our Nation welcomes refugees from around the 
world reaffirms America's commitment to human rights. And on this 60th 
anniversary, I look forward to continuing the U.S. commitment to human 
rights through strengthening of our refugee resettlement program.

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