[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 103 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4283-S4284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 552--COMMEMORATING JUNE 20, 2018, AS ``WORLD REFUGEE 
                                 DAY''

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Carper, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Whitehouse,

[[Page S4284]]

Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Booker, Mr. Reed, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. 
Murray, Mr. Coons, Ms. Warren, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Durbin, 
Mr. Merkley, Mr. Udall, Mr. Markey, Mr. Brown, and Ms. Klobuchar) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 552

       Whereas World Refugee Day acknowledges the courage, 
     strength, and determination of women, men, and children 
     forced to flee their homes because of persecution or 
     conflict;
       Whereas, according to the United Nations High Commissioner 
     for Refugees--
       (1) a refugee is an individual who faces persecution or has 
     a well-founded fear of persecution because of race, religion, 
     nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular 
     social group;
       (2) more than 68,500,000 people are displaced worldwide, 
     which is the worst displacement crisis in global history, 
     including 25,400,000 refugees, more than 40,000,000 
     internally displaced people, 3,100,000 asylum seekers, and 
     10,000,000 stateless people;
       (3) children comprise 52 percent of the global refugee 
     population, many of whom lack access to education;
       (4) on average, 44,400 people per day are displaced from 
     their homes;
       (5) 16,200,000 individuals were newly displaced due to 
     conflict or persecution in 2017, including 11,800,000 
     internally displaced persons and 4,400,000 refugees and 
     asylum seekers;
       (6) more than 68 percent of all refugees worldwide come 
     from the following 5 countries:
          (A) Syria, with 6,300,000 refugees;
          (B) Afghanistan, with 2,600,000 refugees;
          (C) South Sudan, with 2,400,000 refugees;
          (D) Myanmar, with 1,200,000 refugees; and
          (E) Somalia, with 986,400 refugees;
       (7) 37 countries resettled 102,800 refugees, less than 1 
     percent of people in need of resettlement, in 2017;
       (8) more than \1/2\ of the Syrian population was displaced, 
     either across borders or within the country, in 2016; and
       (9) the need for third country resettlement continues to 
     grow, with over 1,200,000 refugees requiring resettlement in 
     2017;
       Whereas, during 2017, the United States welcomed a total of 
     33,400 refugees, well below the United States Government goal 
     of 45,000 refugee admissions, and a 65 percent drop compared 
     with the 96,900 refugees welcomed in 2016;
       Whereas, at this pace, the United States may only admit 
     approximately 20,000 refugees this year;
       Whereas refugees are the most vetted travelers to enter the 
     United States and are subject to extensive screening checks, 
     including in-person interviews, biometric data checks, and 
     multiple interagency checks;
       Whereas refugees contribute to local economies in the 
     United States, pay an average of $21,000 more in taxes than 
     they receive in benefits, revitalize cities and towns by 
     offsetting population decline, and boost economic growth 
     throughout the United States by opening businesses, paying 
     taxes, and buying homes;
       Whereas several industries rely heavily on refugee workers 
     to support economic stability, and low rates of refugee 
     arrival has impacted economic growth, especially in towns 
     that rely on refugee populations to revitalize their 
     industries;
       Whereas the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of 
     the Congo is projected to produce nearly 1,000,000 refugees 
     in neighboring countries in 2018;
       Whereas the escalating crisis in Venezuela has forced 
     1,500,000 refugees to seek safety in neighboring countries 
     and beyond since 2014;
       Whereas refugee children are 5 times more likely not to be 
     in school than non-refugee children;
       Whereas refugee women and children are often at greater 
     risk of violence, human trafficking, exploitation, and 
     gender-based violence; and
       Whereas the United States resettlement program is a life-
     saving solution critical to global humanitarian efforts, 
     which strengthens global security, advances United States 
     foreign policy goals, and alleviates the burden placed on 
     front-line host countries: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) underscores the importance of the United States Refugee 
     Resettlement Program as a critical tool for the United States 
     global leadership, including leveraging foreign policy, 
     strengthening national and regional security, and encouraging 
     international support of refugees;
       (2) reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of the United 
     States to promote the safety, health, and well-being of 
     refugees, including the education of refugee children and 
     displaced persons who flee war, persecution, or torture in 
     search of freedom and safety;
       (3) recognizes individuals who have risked their lives 
     working individually and for non-governmental organizations 
     and international agencies, such as United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees, to provide life-saving assistance 
     and protection for people displaced by conflict around the 
     world; and
       (4) calls upon the United States Government--
       (A) to uphold its international leadership role responding 
     to the global refugee crisis with humanitarian assistance and 
     protection for the most vulnerable;
       (B) to continue to provide adequate funding for refugee 
     resettlement in the United States and protection for refugees 
     overseas;
       (C) to work in partnership with the international community 
     to find solutions to existing conflicts and to prevent new 
     conflicts;
       (D) to alleviate the burden on frontline refugee host 
     countries that absorb the majority of the refugees of the 
     world through humanitarian and development support; and
       (E) to reaffirm the long-standing tradition of resettling 
     refugees in the United States regardless of nationality or 
     religion.

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