[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7886-H7888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REAFFIRMING IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY, 
        HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS

  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 444) reaffirming the importance of the 
United States to promote the safety, health, and well-being of refugees 
and displaced persons, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 444

       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;

[[Page H7887]]

       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 2018, according to the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees--
       (1) there were more than 70,800,000 displaced persons 
     worldwide, the worst displacement crisis in global history, 
     including more than 25,900,000 refugees, over 41,300,000 
     internally displaced persons, and 3,500,000 people seeking 
     asylum;
       (2) on average, 37,000 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) 13,600,000 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 about half 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) 67 percent of all refugees came from Syria, 
     Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia, including 
     6,654,000 refugees from Syria alone;
       (8) there were more than 13,000,000 forcibly displaced 
     Syrians, including 6,654,000 refugees, 6,184,000 internally 
     displaced people, and 140,000 asylum-seekers; and
       (9) 84 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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Levin) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous materials on H. Res. 444.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to start by thanking the gentleman from California (Mr. Ted 
Lieu) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart) for introducing 
this resolution, which affirms the importance of U.S. leadership to 
assist the unprecedented number of refugees and displaced persons 
around the world.
  Our country has a rich history of accepting refugees from all walks 
of life. It is the cornerstone of what makes America so special and why 
so many of us are actually standing here today.
  For decades, the United States admitted more refugees than any other 
country. As a nation of immigrants, Americans have always felt a 
special obligation to take in people fleeing violence and danger.
  But now, precisely when we are facing a worldwide refugee crisis, 
with the numbers of displaced people at a record high, the Trump 
administration has drastically cut admissions. They are rejecting our 
traditions of openness and willingness to help people facing great 
peril by slamming the door on these innocent men, women, and children.
  There are 70.8 million people who are displaced around the globe, and 
the Trump administration has cut the number we are allowing into our 
country to 30,000. It is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, and it is a 
moral stain on this country.
  This resolution emphasizes the need for the U.S. to lead on the 
global refugee crisis and calls on the Secretary of State and the U.S. 
Ambassador to the United Nations to continue supporting refugees and 
displaced persons. It is a good measure that I urge my colleagues to 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee of Foreign Affairs,

                               Washington, DC, September 12, 2019.
     Hon Jerrold Nadler,
     Committee on the Judiciary,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Nadler: I am writing to you concerning H. 
     Res. 444, Reaffirming the importance of the United States to 
     promote the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and 
     displaced persons. I appreciate your willingness to work 
     cooperatively on this legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary under House 
     Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H. Res. 
     444 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge 
     that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill 
     does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the 
     matters contained in the bill that fall within your 
     jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of 
     Committee on the Judiciary conferees during any House-Senate 
     conference convened on this legislation.
       Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to 
     continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                               Washington, DC, September 12, 2019.
     Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Engel: This is to advise you that the 
     Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to 
     review the provisions in H. Res. 444, ``Reaffirming the 
     importance of the United States to promote the safety, 
     health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons,'' 
     that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate your 
     consulting with us on those provisions. The Judiciary 
     Committee has no objection to your including them in the bill 
     for consideration on the House floor, and to expedite that 
     consideration is willing to forgo action on H. Res. 444, with 
     the understanding that we do not thereby waive any future 
     jurisdictional claim over those provisions or their subject 
     matters.
       In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar 
     legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the 
     right to request an appropriate number of conferees to 
     address any concerns with these or similar provisions that 
     may arise in conference.
       Please place this letter into the Congressional Record 
     during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank 
     you for the cooperative spirit in which you have

[[Page H7888]]

     worked regarding this matter and others between our 
     committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jerrold Nadler,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bipartisan resolution 
focusing on refugees and displaced persons, and I want to thank the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Ted Lieu) and the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Diaz-Balart) for introducing the resolution.
  Today, conflict, violence, and natural disasters have displaced more 
than 70 million people around the world, the highest levels in history. 
We see these traumas in Syria, in Venezuela, in sub-Saharan Africa, in 
Burma and many other places.
  These huge movements of vulnerable people and populations are not 
just humanitarian crises, but also strategic challenges to the 
stability of many critical regions.
  The United States is and will continue to be a leader in confronting 
this reality. We remain the largest single donor supporting the needs 
of refugees and displaced persons around the world. But, as the need is 
increasing, we must also push our partners and other responsible 
nations to contribute more to these important efforts.
  This resolution also, appropriately, recognizes the men and women who 
risk their lives to provide lifesaving assistance and protection to 
refugee populations. Without their bravery and dedication, none of this 
work would be possible.
  In closing, I want to urge all my colleagues to support this 
important resolution.
  Let me also say, on a point of personal privilege, I have enjoyed 
this exchange, this debate today with my good friend from Michigan (Mr. 
Levin), carrying on what I consider to be what the Foreign Affairs 
Committee is most proud of, and that is we are the most bipartisan 
committee in the House and, I would argue, in the Congress, and it is a 
great tradition to carry forward. I look forward to working with Mr. 
Levin in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume for the purpose of closing.
  Mr. Speaker, 80 years ago, at the beginning of World War II, a ship 
called the St. Louis neared America's shores. 937 passengers, almost 
all Jewish refugees of the Nazis, asked for the United States to allow 
them entry.
  We easily could have absorbed all these people and more, but instead 
we turned them away. Many were taken in by Western European countries, 
but 254, more than a quarter of them, died in the Holocaust. We could 
have prevented these deaths, but we didn't.
  So as we consider this resolution, let's remember the lessons of the 
St. Louis. I remain committed to undoing the devastation done to 
America's tradition of admitting refugees. Our country's ceiling for 
refugee admissions is already at a historic low. We must do more to 
provide safe haven for the 70.8 million innocent people who are 
displaced all around this world.
  This administration's crackdown on refugees is irresponsible. It 
leaves a moral stain on our Nation and will contribute to national 
security threats stemming from global instability.
  I urge my colleagues to support the good, bipartisan measure offered 
by Mr. Lieu and Mr. Diaz-Balart.
  I echo my colleague from Texas Mr. McCaul's remarks. It is a deep 
honor to be here debating this measure with Mr. McCaul, and I look 
forward to working with him in a bipartisan manner that is really a 
unique and a proud tradition of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 444, 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.

                          ____________________