[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 104 (Thursday, June 20, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4182-S4184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 743--REAFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES 
PROMOTING THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED 
           PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. 
Coons, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. 
Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Mr. 
Murphy, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Schatz, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Van 
Hollen, Mr. Welch, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Whitehouse) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 743

       Whereas June 20, 2024 is an international day designated by 
     the United Nations as ``World Refugee Day,'' to recognize 
     refugees around the globe and celebrate the strength and 
     courage of people who have been forced to flee their homes to 
     escape conflict or persecution due to their race, religion, 
     nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular 
     social group;
       Whereas July 28, 2024 is the 73rd anniversary of the 
     adoption of the Convention relating to the Status of 
     Refugees, held at Geneva on July 28, 1951, which defines the 
     term ``refugee'' and outlines the rights of refugees and the 
     legal obligations of nation states to protect such rights;
       Whereas in 2024, the United Nations High Commissioner for 
     Refugees (referred to in this resolution as ``UNHCR'') 
     reported that--
       (1) at the end of 2023, there were more than 117,000,000 
     displaced people who had been forced from their homes 
     worldwide, which is more displaced people than at any other 
     time in recorded history, including more than 31,600,000 
     refugees, 6,900,000 asylum seekers, and 68,300,000 internally 
     displaced persons;
       (2) 75 percent of all refugees worldwide are hosted in low- 
     and middle-income countries and fewer than 1 percent of 
     refugees are ever resettled;
       (3) 73 percent of the world's refugees originate from 5 
     countries, namely Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, and 
     Sudan;
       (4) more than 50 percent of the population of Syria 
     (approximately 13,800,000 people) have been displaced since 
     the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011, either exiting 
     Syria across an international border or going to other areas 
     within Syria;

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       (5) as of June 2024, 9,700,000 Ukrainians are displaced as 
     a result of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which is an 
     estimated \1/6\ of Ukraine's pre-war population, including 
     more than 6,400,000 Ukrainian refugees;
       (6) there are an estimated 6,400,000 Afghan refugees around 
     the world, of whom 90 percent are hosted in either Iran or 
     Pakistan;
       (7) Latin America and the Caribbean currently host 84 
     percent of the more than 7,000,000 Venezuelan refugees and 
     migrants globally, and the Americas currently host 
     approximately 20,000,000 refugees, asylum-seekers, and 
     stateless people from around the world;
       (8) as of June 2024, more than 9,000,000 people are 
     displaced due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, including 
     nearly 2,000,000 refugees who have fled to neighboring 
     countries, many of whom are women or children;
       (9) as of May 2024, more than 360,000 people were 
     internally displaced in Haiti due to widespread violence in 
     the prior year;
       (10) between October 2023 and June 2024, approximately 75 
     percent of the population of Gaza (approximately 1,700,000 
     people) have been internally displaced;
       (11) as of April 2024, there were approximately 6,800,000 
     internally displaced people in the Democratic Republic of the 
     Congo as a result of violence between armed groups;
       (12) as of May 2024, nearly 1,000,000 Rohingya refugees 
     resided in Bangladesh, with thousands more refugees 
     throughout the region, and an estimated 45,000 newly 
     displaced Rohingya people fled to the border of Burma and 
     Bangladesh in 2024 amidst renewed violence in Rakhine State, 
     with the potential for increased refugee flows in the coming 
     months as violence continues; and
       (13) as of May 2024, in the Sahel region, which encompasses 
     Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, nearly 4,800,000 people have 
     been forced to flee their homes;
       Whereas welcoming people from around the world who have 
     been oppressed and persecuted is a tenet of our Nation, and 
     the United States is home to a diverse population of refugees 
     and immigrants who contribute to the economic strengths and 
     cultural richness of our communities;
       Whereas since seeking asylum is a protected right under 
     United States domestic and international law, the United 
     States is legally obligated to contribute to the maintenance 
     of a humane and functioning international asylum system;
       Whereas the principle of non-refoulement is also a central 
     tenet of the United States refugee and asylum systems, and 
     thousands of people living in the United States who 
     immigrated from countries around the world would be subject 
     to harm if they were deported to their countries of origin 
     due to widespread conflict or persecution in such countries;
       Whereas the United States Refugee Admissions Program, which 
     was established in 1980--
       (1) is a lifesaving pillar of global humanitarian efforts;
       (2) advances United States national security and foreign 
     policy goals; and
       (3) supports regional host countries;
       Whereas resettlement is an essential part of a 
     comprehensive strategy to respond to refugee crises, promote 
     regional stability, and strengthen United States national 
     security;
       Whereas resettlement to the United States is available for 
     the most vulnerable refugees who undergo rigorous security 
     vetting and medical screening processes;
       Whereas the United States supports the efforts of the UNHCR 
     to increase protection for, and the global resettlement of, 
     LGBTQI+ refugees overseas;
       Whereas women and girls have an increased risk of sexual 
     violence, exploitation, and trafficking while they are 
     traveling to seek safe living conditions;
       Whereas through the United States Refugee Admissions 
     Program--
       (1) the number of refugees who have arrived in the United 
     States increased from only 11,411 during fiscal year 2021 to 
     60,014 during fiscal year 2023;
       (2) as of May 31, 2024, more than 60,000 refugees had 
     arrived in the United States during fiscal year 2024; and
       (3) the Biden Administration continues to actively pursue 
     its stated goal of 125,000 refugee admissions during fiscal 
     year 2024;
       Whereas refugee resettlement organizations, businesses, and 
     other community and faith-based groups offer support for 
     refugees who resettle in the United States, and groups of 
     private citizens are now supporting newly arrived refugees 
     through Welcome Corps, the refugee sponsorship initiative 
     under the United States Refugee Admissions Program;
       Whereas, between 2005 and 2019, refugees and asylees in the 
     United States contributed an estimated $581,000,000,000 in 
     total revenue across all levels of government;
       Whereas robust funding for international and domestic 
     protection and assistance for refugees and other displaced 
     populations bolsters United States national security, foreign 
     policy, economic, and humanitarian interests; and
       Whereas most refugees integrate and quickly become self-
     sufficient members of their respective communities by joining 
     the workforce, paying taxes, supporting local commerce, 
     helping to address labor demand in critical industries, and 
     creating new jobs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the urgency to establish and follow 
     comprehensive, fair, and humane policies to address forced 
     migration and refugee challenges;
       (2) reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of the United 
     States to promote the safety, health, and well-being of 
     millions of refugees and asylum seekers, including the 
     education of refugee children and displaced persons fleeing 
     war, persecution, or torture in search of protection, peace, 
     hope, and freedom;
       (3) recognizes the many individuals who have risked their 
     lives working, either individually or on behalf of 
     nongovernmental organizations or international agencies, such 
     as UNHCR, to provide lifesaving assistance and protection for 
     people around the world who have been displaced from their 
     homes;
       (4) reaffirms the imperative to fully restore United States 
     asylum protections enshrined in the Refugee Act of 1980 
     (Public Law 96-212) by rejecting harmful bans and 
     restrictions that limit refugees' access to protections and 
     due process at the United States border;
       (5) reaffirms the importance of the United States Refugee 
     Admissions Program as a critical tool of the United States 
     Government--
       (A) to strengthen national and regional security; and
       (B) to encourage international solidarity with host 
     countries; and
       (6) calls upon the Secretary of State, the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, and the United States Ambassador to the United 
     Nations--
       (A) to uphold the United States' international leadership 
     role in responding to displacement crises with humanitarian 
     assistance, and strengthening its leadership role in the 
     protection of vulnerable refugee populations that endure 
     gender-based violence, torture, human trafficking, 
     persecution, and violence against religious minorities, 
     forced conscription, genocide, and exploitation;
       (B) to work in partnership with the international community 
     to find solutions to existing conflicts, prevent new 
     conflicts from emerging, and tackle the root causes of 
     involuntary migration;
       (C) to continue supporting the efforts of the UNHCR and 
     advance the work of nongovernmental organizations to protect 
     refugees and asylum seekers regardless of their country of 
     origin, race, ethnicity, or religious beliefs;
       (D) to continue to alleviate pressures, through 
     humanitarian and development assistance, on frontline refugee 
     host countries that absorb the majority of the world's 
     refugees, while effectively advocating for refugee well-
     being, including access to education and livelihoods;
       (E) to meaningfully include refugees and displaced 
     populations in creating and achieving the policy solutions 
     affecting them;
       (F) to respond to the global refugee crisis by meeting 
     robust refugee admissions goals;
       (G) to implement the United States' pledges made at the 
     Global Refugee Forum held in Geneva in December 2023 to 
     expand refugee protection;
       (H) to address barriers faced by refugees with disabilities 
     by ensuring accessible infrastructure and the availability of 
     disability-related services and social protection schemes; 
     and
       (I) to reaffirm the goals of ``World Refugee Day'' and 
     reiterate the United States' strong commitment to protect 
     refugees and asylum seekers who live without adequate 
     material, social, or legal protections.

  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, today on World Refugee Day, I am here to 
honor the tens of millions of people worldwide who have been forced to 
flee their homes. World Refugee Day was first held in June of 2001 to 
commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and to 
shine a light on the needs and rights of refugees while giving voice to 
their aspirations.
  At that time, in 2001, the number of forcibly displaced persons 
globally was close to 20 million. Today that number stands at 120 
million people, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency. This staggering 
figure, the highest in recorded history, means that 1.5 percent of the 
entire world's population has been forced to flee their homes as a 
result of persecution, conflict, violence, or natural disasters like 
drought, crop failures, or famine.
  In the past 10 years, the number of forcibly displaced persons has 
more than doubled as new conflicts have arisen and longstanding crises 
have gone unresolved, made worse by the impacts of climate change, food 
insecurity, and poverty.
  Of this 120 million, there are more than 31 million refugees who have 
crossed international borders to seek safety in another country--31 
million people who are not safe from prosecution in their own country 
of origin. There are more than 68 million internally displaced persons, 
the majority of whom are women and children, forced from their homes 
but still within the country's borders.
  In every region of the world, we see people pushed from their homes: 
in the Sudan, where the brutal and altogether avoidable conflict 
between the Rapid

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Support Forces and Sudan Armed Forces has forced more than 9 million 
people to flee their homes, and without a ceasefire and sustainable 
peace agreement, these numbers will only continue to grow; in Ukraine, 
where Putin's illegal full-scale invasion has pushed nearly 10 million 
Ukrainians from their homes, including more than 6 million refugees; in 
Gaza, where approximately 75 percent of the population--1.7 million 
people--has been displaced and displaced multiple times since last 
October; and in Haiti, where widespread violence has uprooted more than 
360,000 people in the past year.
  Even as crises fades from the headlines, the impact to people's lives 
do not: for nearly 14 million displaced Syrians representing over half 
the country's population to the estimated 6.5 million Afghan refugees 
around the world, to the more than 6 million Venezuelan refugees, the 
long tail of conflict and crisis has left millions displaced year after 
year.
  Behind every number is a story of a life uprooted, but there is also 
a story of courage, of resilience and hope for a brighter future, the 
hope of a refugee mother for her child to receive an education, the 
hope of a refugee woman to someday become a doctor, the hope of a 
family caught in the crosshairs of war to return to their homes and 
live in peace.
  Achieving this brighter future requires urgent and sustained support 
from the United States and the international community. Massive cuts 
proposed by House colleagues to the Migration and Refugee Assistance 
accounts for fiscal year 2025 would turn our back and imperil the lives 
of those most at risk.
  That is why this day I will be introducing, along with 21 of my 
Senate colleagues, a resolution reaffirming the importance of promoting 
the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons in 
the United States and around the world.
  This means upholding the long history of the United States welcoming 
people from around the world who have been oppressed and persecuted. 
Our U.S. Refugee Admission Program, established in 1980, remains a 
lifesaving pillar for resettling the most vulnerable refugees.
  It means further tapping into the deep generosity of Americans, as 
demonstrated by the U.S. Government's welcome tour through which 
private citizens are supporting newly arrived refugees themselves.
  It means supporting host communities, particularly in low- and 
middle-income countries, where 75 percent of all refugees are hosted 
while advocating for refugee inclusion. It means continuing U.S. 
leadership by the State Department, USAID, and NGO partners in 
responding to displacement crises with humanitarian assistance and 
protection for forcibly displaced persons that are at risk of gender-
based violence, human trafficking, and other human rights abuses.
  It means working in partnership with the international community to 
resolve conflicts, to address climate change that is destroying lands 
and livelihoods, and to hold human rights abusers accountable so that 
people can return to their homes.
  In taking these steps, we will not only uplift the lives of 
vulnerable people around the world, we will also promote regional 
stability and strengthen U.S. national security.
  So on World Refugee Day, let us all join together to mitigate the 
causes that have forced refugees to leave their homes and help these 
individuals who are displaced to have an opportunity for a peaceful 
future.

                          ____________________