III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 195 

Recognizing June 20, 2017, as ‘‘World Refugee Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 20, 2017 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. COONS, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. 

BOOKER, Mr. FRANKEN, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. KAINE, Mr. 

BENNET, and Mr. BROWN) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing June 20, 2017, as ‘‘World Refugee Day’’. 

Whereas World Refugee Day is an opportunity to acknowledge the courage, strength, and determination of women, 

men, and children forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence, and persecution; 

Whereas according to the United Nations High Commissioner 

for Refugees (referred to in this Resolution as 

‘‘UNHCR’’)— 

(1) there are more than 65,600,000 displaced people 

worldwide, the highest level ever recorded, including nearly 22,500,000 refugees, more than 40,300,000 internally 

displaced people, and 2,800,000 people seeking asylum; 


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•SRES 195 IS 

(2) children account for 51 percent of the global refugee population, millions of whom are unable to access 

basic services, including education; 

(3) 10,300,000 people were newly displaced due to 

conflict or persecution in 2016; 

(4) more than 5,500,000 refugees have fled Syria 

since the start of the conflict, and more than 6,300,000 

people are displaced inside Syria; 

(5) since January 2014, more than 3,000,000 Iraqis 

fleeing violence have been internally displaced, and 

257,000 refugees have fled to neighboring countries; 

(6) South Sudan has the world’s fastest-growing refugee crisis, which is now the largest refugee crisis in Africa, with more than 1,800,000 refugees, including 

1,000,000 children; 

(7) increasing violence in Guatemala, El Salvador, 

and Honduras has led to a growing number of unaccompanied child refugees, who are particularly vulnerable to 

sexual violence, human trafficking, and kidnapping; and 

(8) ongoing conflict, violence, and persecution have 

resulted in the displacement of millions in Ukraine, Colombia, and the Central African Republic; 

Whereas 84 percent of the world’s refugees are hosted in developing regions, with more than 28 percent hosted in the 

world’s least developed countries; 

Whereas refugees who are women and children are often at 

greater risk of violence, human trafficking, exploitation, 

and gender-based violence; 

Whereas the United States resettlement program is a life-saving solution critical to global humanitarian efforts, which 

reflects American values, strengthens global security, and 

alleviates the burden placed on front-line host countries; 


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•SRES 195 IS 

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 their communities by starting 

businesses, paying taxes, and sharing their cultural traditions; and 

Whereas refugees contribute more than they consume in 

State-funded services, including schooling and health 

care: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of the 

3 United States to promote the safety, health, and 

4 well-being of the millions of refugees; 

5 (2) recognizes those individuals who have risked 

6 their lives working individually and for nongovern7 mental organizations and international agencies, 

8 such as UNHCR, to provide life-saving assistance 

9 and protection for people displaced by conflict 

10 around the world; 

11 (3) underscores the importance of the United 

12 States Refugee Resettlement Program as a critical 

13 tool for United States global leadership; 

14 (4) calls upon the United States Government— 

15 (A) to continue providing robust funding 

16 for refugee protection overseas and resettlement 

17 in the United States; 


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•SRES 195 IS 

1 (B) to uphold its international leadership 

2 role in responding to displacement crises with 

3 humanitarian assistance and protection of the 

4 most vulnerable populations; and 

5 (C) to alleviate the burden on refugee host 

6 countries through humanitarian and develop7 ment support while maintaining the United 

8 States longstanding tradition of resettling the 

9 most vulnerable refugees regardless of their 

10 country of origin or religious beliefs; 

11 (5) reaffirms the goals of World Refugee Day; 

12 and 

13 (6) reiterates the strong commitment of the 

14 United States to seek to protect the millions of refu15 gees who live without material, social, or legal pro16 tections. 

Æ 


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