[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9887]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           WORLD REFUGEE DAY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of World Refugee 
Day on June 20. On December 4, 2000, the United Nations General 
Assembly decided to designate June 20 as World Refugee Day. Each year 
on this day, we have an opportunity to honor the women, men, and 
children who have faced such extreme persecution, conflict, and 
violence that they have been forced to flee their homes and their 
communities. I am as saddened by their losses as I am impressed by the 
strength, courage, and resilience demonstrated by their commitment to 
protecting their families and building new communities around the 
world.
  There are more than 45 million refugees and internally displaced 
persons globally. With so many people unable to return to their homes, 
I am proud to be part of a nation that was built on the basic principle 
that all men and women were created equal and that all people have 
basic rights, no matter where they come from. Since 1975, our great 
Nation has welcomed more than 3 million refugees, and we continue to 
allow thousands of refugees to permanently relocate here every year. 
The United States is also the world's largest donor to the Office of 
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
  Today, we recognize that every minute, eight people leave everything 
behind to escape war, persecution, or terror. We recognize that nearly 
half of all refugees are younger than 18 years old. We recognize that, 
even after fleeing from conflict and persecution, refugees continue to 
face numerous challenges, from providing food for their families to 
persevering through homesickness and loss. We recognize that we are a 
nation that shares our home with those who cannot return to their own.

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