[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 89 (Thursday, June 20, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S4788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2013

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to mark the 12th World 
Refugee Day, a day we honor the courage, strength, and determination of 
those who are forced to flee their homes under threat of persecution, 
conflict, and violence. Our nation's role as a safe haven for the 
persecuted is an integral part of our history. The United States was 
founded as a beacon of freedom and tolerance--freedom of speech and 
religion, and tolerance of all creeds and cultures. And throughout the 
years, Americans have fought to ensure that those rights are upheld for 
all of us.
  Too often, we take these bedrocks of our society for granted. We 
forget that most of the freedoms we now enjoy are still being fought 
for in too many places around the world.
  Today, there are over 43.7 million refugees and internally displaced 
people around the world. The protracted conflict in Syria has only 
exacerbated this problem.
  To date, UNHCR estimates that 1.6 million Syrians have fled into 
neighboring Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt. With the vast 
majority of refugees--1 million--fleeing within the first 5 months of 
this year.
  This past February I visited the Kilis refugee camp in Turkey, which 
is currently sheltering over 15,000 Syrian refugees. I was able to 
witness first- hand the remarkable bravery of the Syrian refugee 
population. Many of these families relocated several times within Syria 
before ultimately making the heart wrenching decision to leave their 
homes and their country, to seek food, medical attention and safety 
outside of Syria.
  But I also recognize the enormous economic strain this influx has 
caused on host countries. In Jordan, for example, the Syrian refugee 
crisis has increased the country's overall population by 10 percent, 
and the crisis has had profound social, economic, and political 
implications. We know that this is not easy, but we applaud Jordan and 
other refugee host nations for their actions and we have pledged 
humanitarian support for these communities.
  The Syrian crisis is just one example of a troubling global problem. 
There are millions of refugees around the world--many of whom have been 
living in camps and settlements for decades. Whether from Iraq, 
Afghanistan, Mali or South Sudan, this diverse group, scattered across 
the globe, has one overarching commonality: they once lived in a place 
they called home, but by ill-fated circumstances were forced to flee, 
often with no hope of returning.
  I know many of you agree with me when I say that addressing the 
refugee crisis is not a luxury, it is a necessity. As history has shown 
us, unstable and poverty stricken countries are very vulnerable to 
dictators and other extreme forms of government. Therefore it is 
imperative that our development and foreign assistance programs 
continue to have the resources necessary to ensure that the United 
States remains the nation that preserves and protects freedoms around 
the world, and the nation that supports our friends and allies when 
they do the same.
  As United States citizens we enjoy so much that is rare in other 
parts of the world. Apart from reminding ourselves of all that we are 
thankful for, today should also spur us to action. As a global leader, 
the United States should lead the charge in aiding refugees around the 
world, and by our example inspire others to do the same.

                          ____________________