[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 23, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4730-S4731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 283--REAFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES 
    TO PROMOTING THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING OF REFUGEES AND 
                           DISPLACED PERSONS

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
Coons, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Booker, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Markey, Mr. 
Van Hollen, Mr. Warnock, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Hirono, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Ms. Smith, Mr. Brown, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Padilla, Mr. 
Schatz, and Mr. Reed) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 283

       Whereas June 20 is observed as ``World Refugee Day'', a 
     global event to acknowledge the courage, resilience, and 
     determination of individuals and families who are forced to 
     flee their homes due to persecution;
       Whereas December 14, 2020, signified 70 years since the 
     founding of the Office of the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees;
       Whereas July 28, 2021, is the 70th anniversary of the 
     Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, signed in 
     Geneva on July 28, 1951, which defines the term ``refugee'' 
     and outlines the rights of refugees and the legal obligations 
     of states to protect them;
       Whereas, in 2020, according to the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees--
       (1) there were more than 82,400,000 forcibly displaced 
     people worldwide, the worst displacement crisis in recorded 
     history, including 26,400,000 refugees, more than 48,000,000 
     internally displaced people, and 4,100,000 people seeking 
     asylum;
       (2) on average, 1 out of every 95 people worldwide was a 
     refugee, an internally displaced person, or a person seeking 
     asylum;
       (3) 11,200,000 people were newly displaced due to recent 
     conflict or persecution;
       (4) 68 percent of the world's refugees came from Syria, 
     Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Burma;
       (5) 2,600,000 Afghan refugees were displaced worldwide, 
     making them one of the world's largest and longest-running 
     displaced populations;
       (6) more than 50 percent of the population of Syria, at 
     least 13,500,000 people, were displaced, either across the 
     international border or within Syria, which represents the 
     largest displacement crisis in the world today;

[[Page S4731]]

       (7) children accounted for 30 percent of the world's 
     population but 42 percent of all forcibly displaced people, 
     millions of whom were unable to access basic services, 
     including education; and
       (8) 86 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;
       Whereas refugees are major contributors to local economies 
     and served as critical frontline health professionals and 
     essential workers combating the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide;
       Whereas the United States has an obligation to provide 
     humanitarian protection to refugees, as well as interpreters, 
     translators, and others in Afghanistan who served alongside 
     United States and NATO troops, diplomats, and development 
     workers;
       Whereas the United States supports the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees to increase protection for LGBTQI+ 
     refugees overseas and to support global resettlement of 
     LGBTQI+ refugees; and
       Whereas the United States Refugee Admissions Program, which 
     was established over 40 years ago, is a lifesaving solution 
     crucial to global humanitarian efforts, strengthens global 
     security, advances United States foreign policy goals, 
     supports regional host countries, and assists individuals and 
     families in need: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of the United 
     States to promote the safety, health, and well-being of 
     millions of refugees, including the education of refugee 
     children and displaced persons, who flee war, persecution, or 
     torture in search of peace, hope, and freedom;
       (2) recognizes those individuals who have risked their 
     lives working, either individually or for nongovernmental 
     organizations and international agencies, such as the United 
     Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to provide lifesaving 
     assistance and protection for people displaced around the 
     world;
       (3) underscores the importance of the United States Refugee 
     Admissions Program as a critical tool for the United States 
     Government to strengthen national and regional security and 
     encourage international solidarity with host countries;
       (4) calls upon the Secretary of State and United States 
     Ambassador to the United Nations to--
       (A) continue providing robust funding for refugee 
     protection overseas and resettlement in 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 and prevent new 
     conflicts from beginning;
       (D) continue supporting the efforts of the United Nations 
     High Commissioner for Refugees 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 of the United States to 
     protect the millions of refugees who live without material, 
     social, or legal protections.

                          ____________________