I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 651 

To modify provisions of law relating to refugee resettlement, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 13, 2013 

Mr. ELLISON (for himself, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, and Mr. MORAN) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and 

in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Ways and Means, 

for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 

for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 

committee concerned 

A BILL 

To modify provisions of law relating to refugee resettlement, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Strengthening Refugee Resettlement Act’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Security checks. 


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Sec. 3. English language and work orientation training for approved refugee 

applicants. 

Sec. 4. Lawful permanent resident status of refugees and aliens granted asylum. 

Sec. 5. Update of reception and placement grants. 

Sec. 6. Coordination of refugee program agencies. 

Sec. 7. Case management. 

Sec. 8. Increase in cash payments. 

Sec. 9. Refugee integration grants. 

Sec. 10. Matching grant program expansion. 

Sec. 11. Domestic Emergency Refugee Resettlement Fund. 

Sec. 12. Supplemental Security Income benefits. 

Sec. 13. Making special immigrant juvenile status beneficiaries and unaccompanied children granted ‘‘U’’ visa protection eligible for refugee 

benefits. 

1 SEC. 2. SECURITY CHECKS. 

2 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—Although effective secu3 rity checks are needed to ensure that the United States 

4 and the Nation’s refugee admissions program are ade5 quately protected, it is the sense of the Congress that the 

6 failure to properly coordinate security and non-security 

7 clearance procedures has had negative impacts on the 

8 processing of vulnerable individuals who are in need of, 

9 and eligible for, resettlement to the United States. 

10 (b) REVIEW OF REFUGEE PROCESSING.—The Sec11 retary of Homeland Security shall work with the heads 

12 of other relevant Federal agencies, including the Depart13 ment of State, to conduct a review of refugee processing, 

14 including security clearances, with the goal of streamlining 

15 processing, consistent with maintaining thorough security 

16 vetting. 

17 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date 

18 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 


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1 Security shall submit to the Congress a report on the re2 sults of the review conducted under subsection (b). The 

3 report shall include a description of recommended changes 

4 to streamline processing and the costs associated with any 

5 unfunded needs. 

6 SEC. 3. ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND WORK ORIENTATION 

7 TRAINING FOR APPROVED REFUGEE APPLI8 CANTS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall es10 tablish overseas refugee training programs to provide 

11 English as a second language and work orientation train12 ing for refugees who have been approved for admission 

13 to the United States before their departure for the United 

14 States. 

15 (b) DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION.—In designing 

16 and implementing the programs referred to in subsection 

17 (a), the Secretary shall consult with or use— 

18 (1) nongovernmental or international organiza19 tions with direct ties to the United States refugee 

20 resettlement program; and 

21 (2) nongovernmental or international organiza22 tions with appropriate expertise in developing cur23 riculum and teaching English as a second language. 

24 (c) IMPACT ON PROCESSING TIMES.—The Secretary 

25 shall ensure that such training programs occur within apVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:24 Feb 21, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H651.IH H651

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1 plicable processing times and do not unduly delay the de2 parture for the United States of refugees who have been 

3 approved for admission to the United States. 

4 (d) TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.— 

5 (1) INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 

6 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

7 the Secretary shall ensure that such training pro8 grams are fully and continually operational in at 

9 least 3 refugee processing regions. 

10 (2) ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later 

11 than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this 

12 Act, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate con13 gressional committees that such training programs 

14 are fully and consistently operational in 5 refugee 

15 processing regions. 

16 (e) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the 

17 date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 

18 of the United States shall conduct a study on the imple19 mentation of this section, including an assessment of the 

20 quality of English as a second language curriculum and 

21 instruction, the benefits of the work orientation and 

22 English as a second language training program to refu23 gees, and recommendations on whether such programs 

24 should be continued, broadened, or modified, and shall 


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1 submit to the appropriate congressional committees a re2 port on the findings of such study. 

3 (f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec4 tion shall be construed to require that a refugee partici5 pate in such a training program as a precondition for the 

6 admission to the United States of such refugee. 

7 SEC. 4. LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS OF REFU8 GEES AND ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM. 

9 (a) ADMISSION OF EMERGENCY SITUATION REFU10 GEES.—Section 207(c) of the Immigration and Nation11 ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)) is amended— 

12 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

13 (A) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ the 

14 first time it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of 

15 Homeland Security’’; 

16 (B) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ each 

17 additional place it appears and inserting ‘‘Sec18 retary’’; and 

19 (C) by striking ‘‘(except as otherwise pro20 vided under paragraph (3)) as an immigrant 

21 under this Act.’’ and inserting ‘‘(except as pro22 vided under subsections (b) and (c) of section 

23 209) as an immigrant under this Act. Notwith24 standing any numerical limitations specified in 

25 this Act, any alien admitted under this paraVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:24 Feb 21, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H651.IH H651

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1 graph shall be regarded as lawfully admitted to 

2 the United States for permanent residence as of 

3 the date of such alien’s admission to the United 

4 States.’’; 

5 (2) in paragraph (2)(A)— 

6 (A) by striking ‘‘(except as otherwise pro7 vided under paragraph (3))’’ and inserting 

8 ‘‘(except as provided under subsections (b) and 

9 (c) of section 209)’’; and 

10 (B) by striking the last sentence and in11 serting the following: ‘‘An alien admitted to the 

12 United States as a refugee may petition for his 

13 or her spouse or child to follow to join him or 

14 her in the United States at any time after such 

15 alien’s admission, notwithstanding his or her 

16 treatment as a lawful permanent resident as of 

17 the date of his or her admission to the United 

18 States.’’; 

19 (3) by striking paragraph (3); 

20 (4) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para21 graph (3); and 

22 (5) in paragraph (3), as redesignated— 

23 (A) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ the 

24 first place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary 

25 of Homeland Security’’; and 


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1 (B) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ each 

2 additional place it appears and inserting ‘‘Sec3 retary’’. 

4 (b) TREATMENT OF SPOUSE AND CHILDREN.—Sec5 tion 208(b)(3) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(3)) is 

6 amended— 

7 (1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as sub8 paragraph (E); and 

9 (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol10 lowing: 

11 ‘‘(B) PETITION.—An alien granted asylum 

12 under this subsection may petition for the same 

13 status to be conferred on his or her spouse or 

14 child at any time after such alien is granted 

15 asylum whether or not such alien has applied 

16 for, or been granted, adjustment to permanent 

17 resident status under section 209. 

18 ‘‘(C) PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS.— 

19 Notwithstanding any numerical limitations 

20 specified in this Act, a spouse or child admitted 

21 to the United States as an asylee following to 

22 join a spouse or parent previously granted asy23 lum shall be regarded as lawfully admitted to 

24 the United States for permanent residence as of 


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1 the date of such spouse’s or child’s admission to 

2 the United States. 

3 ‘‘(D) APPLICATION FOR ADJUSTMENT OF

4 STATUS.—A spouse or child who was not admit5 ted to the United States pursuant to a grant of 

6 asylum, but who was granted asylum under this 

7 subparagraph after his or her arrival as the 

8 spouse or child of an alien granted asylum 

9 under section 208, may apply for adjustment of 

10 status to that of lawful permanent resident 

11 under section 209 at any time after being 

12 granted asylum.’’. 

13 (c) REFUGEES.—Section 209 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 

14 1159) is amended to read as follows: 

15 ‘‘SEC. 209. TREATMENT OF ALIENS ADMITTED AS REFU16 GEES AND ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM. 

17 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 

18 ‘‘(1) TREATMENT OF REFUGEES.—Notwith19 standing any numerical limitations specified in this 

20 Act, any alien who has been admitted to the United 

21 States under section 207 shall be regarded as law22 fully admitted to the United States for permanent 

23 residence as of the date of such admission. 

24 ‘‘(2) TREATMENT OF SPOUSE AND CHIL25 DREN.—Notwithstanding any numerical limitations 


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1 specified in this Act, any alien admitted to the 

2 United States under section 208(b)(3) as the spouse 

3 or child of an alien granted asylum under section 

4 208(b)(1) shall be regarded as lawfully admitted to 

5 the United States for permanent residence as of the 

6 date of such admission. 

7 ‘‘(3) ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS.—The Secretary 

8 of Homeland Security or the Attorney General, in 

9 the discretion of the Secretary or the Attorney Gen10 eral, and under such regulations as the Secretary or 

11 the Attorney General may prescribe, may adjust, to 

12 the status of an alien lawfully admitted to the 

13 United States for permanent residence, the status of 

14 any alien who, while in the United States— 

15 ‘‘(A) is granted— 

16 ‘‘(i) asylum under section 208(b) (as 

17 a principal alien or as the spouse or child 

18 of an alien granted asylum); or 

19 ‘‘(ii) refugee status under section 207 

20 as the spouse or child of a refugee; 

21 ‘‘(B) applies for such adjustment of status 

22 at any time after being granted asylum or ref23 ugee status; 

24 ‘‘(C) is not firmly resettled in any foreign 

25 country; and 


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1 ‘‘(D) is admissible (except as otherwise 

2 provided under subsections (b) and (c)) as an 

3 immigrant under this Act at the time of exam4 ination for adjustment of such alien. 

5 ‘‘(4) RECORD.—Upon approval of an applica6 tion under this subsection, the Secretary of Home7 land Security or the Attorney General shall establish 

8 a record of the alien’s admission for lawful perma9 nent residence as of the date such alien was granted 

10 asylum or refugee status. 

11 ‘‘(5) DOCUMENT ISSUANCE.—An alien who has 

12 been admitted to the United States under section 

13 207 or 208 or who adjusts to the status of a lawful 

14 permanent resident as a refugee or asylee under this 

15 section shall be issued documentation indicating that 

16 such alien is a lawful permanent resident pursuant 

17 to a grant of refugee or asylum status. 

18 ‘‘(b) INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN INADMISSIBILITY

19 GROUNDS TO REFUGEES, ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM, 

20 AND SUCH ALIENS SEEKING ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS TO

21 LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT.—Paragraphs (4), (5), 

22 and (7)(A) of section 212(a) shall not apply to— 

23 ‘‘(1) any refugee under section 207; 

24 ‘‘(2) any alien granted asylum under section 

25 208; or 


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1 ‘‘(3) any alien seeking admission as a lawful 

2 permanent resident pursuant to a grant of refugee 

3 or asylum status. 

4 ‘‘(c) WAIVER OF INADMISSIBILITY OR DEPORT5 ABILITY FOR REFUGEES, ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM, AND

6 SUCH ALIENS SEEKING ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS TO

7 LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT.— 

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para9 graph (2), the Secretary of Homeland Security or 

10 the Attorney General may waive any ground of inad11 missibility under section 212 or any ground of de12 portability under section 237 for a refugee admitted 

13 under section 207, an alien granted asylum under 

14 section 208, or an alien seeking admission as a law15 ful permanent resident pursuant to a grant of ref16 ugee or asylum status if the Secretary or the Attor17 ney General determines that such waiver is justified 

18 by humanitarian purposes, to ensure family unity, or 

19 is otherwise in the public interest. 

20 ‘‘(2) INELIGIBILITY.—A refugee under section 

21 207, an alien granted asylum under section 208, or 

22 an alien seeking admission as a lawful permanent 

23 resident pursuant to a grant of refugee or asylum 

24 status shall be ineligible for a waiver under paraVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:24 Feb 21, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H651.IH H651

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1 graph (1) if it has been established that the alien 

2 is— 

3 ‘‘(A) inadmissible under section 

4 212(a)(2)(C) or subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or 

5 (E) of section 212(a)(3); 

6 ‘‘(B) deportable under section 

7 237(a)(2)(A)(iii) for an offense described in 

8 section 101(a)(43)(B); or 

9 ‘‘(C) deportable under subparagraph (A), 

10 (B), (C), or (D) of section 237(a)(4).’’. 

11 (d) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

12 (1) ALIENS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECT NUMER13 ICAL LIMITATIONS.—Section 201(b)(1)(B) of the 

14 Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

15 1151(b)(1)(B)) is amended to read as follows: 

16 ‘‘(B) Aliens who are admitted to the United 

17 States as permanent residents under section 207 or 

18 208 or whose status is adjusted under section 209.’’. 

19 (2) TRAINING.—Section 207(f)(1) of such Act 

20 (8 U.S.C. 1157(f)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘At21 torney General’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Home22 land Security’’. 

23 (3) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of con24 tents for such Act is amended by striking the item 

25 relating to section 209 and inserting the following: 


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‘‘Sec. 209. Treatment of aliens admitted as refugees and aliens granted asylum.’’. 

1 (e) SAVINGS PROVISIONS.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in the amendments 

3 made by this section may be construed to limit ac4 cess to the benefits described at chapter 2 of title IV 

5 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

6 1521 et seq.). 

7 (2) CLARIFICATION.—Aliens admitted for law8 ful permanent residence under section 207 or 208 of 

9 the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

10 1157; 1158) or who adjust status to lawful perma11 nent resident under section 209 of such Act (8 

12 U.S.C. 1159) shall be considered to be refugees and 

13 aliens granted asylum in accordance with sections 

14 402, 403, 412, and 431 of the Personal Responsi15 bility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 

16 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612; 1613; 1622; 1641). 

17 (f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section, and the amend18 ments made by this section, shall become effective on the 

19 earlier of— 

20 (1) the date that is 180 days after the date of 

21 the enactment of this Act; or 

22 (2) the date on which a final rule is promul23 gated to implement this section. 


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1 SEC. 5. UPDATE OF RECEPTION AND PLACEMENT GRANTS. 

2 Beginning with fiscal year 2014, the Secretary of 

3 State shall, when setting the amount of the reception and 

4 placement grants for refugees, ensure that— 

5 (1) the grant amount is adjusted so that it is 

6 adequate to provide for the anticipated initial reset7 tlement needs of refugees, including adjusting the 

8 amount for inflation and the cost of living; 

9 (2) the administrative proportion of the grant is 

10 provided at the beginning of the fiscal year to each 

11 national resettlement agency that is sufficient to en12 sure adequate local and national capacity to serve 

13 the initial resettlement needs of refugees the Sec14 retary anticipates the agency will resettle throughout 

15 the fiscal year; and 

16 (3) additional amounts are provided to each na17 tional resettlement agency promptly upon the arrival 

18 of refugees that, exclusive of the amounts provided 

19 pursuant to paragraph (2), are sufficient to meet the 

20 anticipated initial resettlement needs of such refu21 gees and support local and national operational costs 

22 in excess of the estimates described in paragraph 

23 (1). 

24 SEC. 6. COORDINATION OF REFUGEE PROGRAM AGENCIES. 

25 It is the sense of the Congress that— 


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1 (1) the President should appoint a White House 

2 Coordinator on Refugee Protection and grant such 

3 official the authority and staff necessary to coordi4 nate, prioritize, and lead efforts to address refugee 

5 protection issues that involve multiple agencies, in6 cluding the refugee admissions program, and to re7 solve interagency differences in a timely, efficient, 

8 and effective manner; and 

9 (2) this position should be at a senior level and 

10 require as a condition for appointment a significant 

11 level of prior experience in the refugee protection 

12 field. 

13 SEC. 7. CASE MANAGEMENT. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.— 

15 (1) ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.— 

16 The Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement 

17 shall make grants to national resettlement agencies 

18 to operate a case management system to assist 

19 qualified individuals in accessing services, benefits, 

20 and assistance for which they are eligible that are 

21 provided by— 

22 (A) the Office of Refugee Resettlement 

23 (the ‘‘Office’’); 

24 (B) other Federal, State, or local agencies; 

25 and 


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1 (C) private or nonprofit organizations. 

2 (2) QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS.—Subject to para3 graphs (3) and (4), any individual who was at any 

4 time eligible for resettlement, acculturation, or sub5 sistence services provided by the Office shall be 

6 qualified to receive the case management services de7 scribed in paragraph (1). 

8 (3) PERIOD OF QUALIFICATION.—Except as 

9 provided in paragraph (4), an individual described in 

10 paragraph (2) shall be qualified to receive the case 

11 management services described in paragraph (1) 

12 during the period beginning on the date such indi13 vidual was determined to be eligible for resettlement, 

14 acculturation, or subsistence services provided by the 

15 Office, and continuing for 1 year after the date on 

16 which such individual ceases to be eligible for such 

17 resettlement, acculturation, or subsistence service. 

18 (4) EXCEPTIONS FOR EXCEPTIONAL CIR19 CUMSTANCES.— 

20 (A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding para21 graph (3), an individual described in subpara22 graph (B) shall be qualified to receive the case 

23 management services described in paragraph 

24 (1) during the period beginning on the date on 

25 which such individual was determined eligible 


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1 for resettlement, acculturation, or subsistence 

2 services provided by the Office, and continuing 

3 for 3 years after the date on which such indi4 vidual ceases to be eligible for such resettle5 ment, acculturation, or subsistence services. 

6 (B) EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.—An 

7 individual described in paragraph (2) may be 

8 treated in accordance with subparagraph (A) if 

9 such individual— 

10 (i) is elderly; 

11 (ii) has extraordinary resettlement or 

12 acculturation needs that impede such indi13 vidual’s ability to achieve durable self-suffi14 ciency; 

15 (iii) is a refugee who was resettled 

16 from a situation of protracted displace17 ment; 

18 (iv) is a member of a family caring for 

19 an unattached refugee minor; or 

20 (v) at the time of entry— 

21 (I) had a disability or serious 

22 medical condition; 

23 (II) had mental health condi24 tions; 


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1 (III) was part of a household 

2 headed by a single parent; or 

3 (IV) had been the victim of a se4 vere form of violence. 

5 (5) DEFINITION OF RESETTLEMENT, ACCUL6 TURATION, OR SUBSISTENCE SERVICES.—For the 

7 purposes of this section, the term, ‘‘resettlement, ac8 culturation, or subsistence services’’ shall include all 

9 of the services provided by the Office to aliens, with 

10 the exception of the case management services pro11 vided under paragraph (1). 

12 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

13 authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec14 essary to carry out this section. 

15 (c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 

16 be construed as affecting the authority of the Director 

17 under section 412(e)(7)(A) of the Immigration and Na18 tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1522(e)(7)(A)), or of any other 

19 section of such Act, to provide case management services 

20 to individuals who have been in the United States for 

21 longer than 36 months. 

22 SEC. 8. INCREASE IN CASH PAYMENTS. 

23 (a) Section 412 of the Immigration and Nationality 

24 Act (8 U.S.C. 1522) is amended— 


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1 (1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by adding at the 

2 end the following: 

3 ‘‘(iv) Subject to the availability of funds appro4 priated for this purpose, assistance and social serv5 ices for employment, health and living expenses shall 

6 be available for a period of not less than 12 

7 months.’’; 

8 (2) in subsection (a)(5), by adding at the end 

9 the following: ‘‘Subject to the availability of funds 

10 appropriated for this purpose, assistance and serv11 ices shall be made available to refugees for a period 

12 of not less than 12 months.’’; and 

13 (3) in subsection (e)(1)— 

14 (A) by striking ‘‘(1)’’ and inserting 

15 ‘‘(1)(A)’’; and 

16 (B) by adding at the end the following: 

17 ‘‘(B) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated 

18 for this purpose, such assistance shall be provided for a 

19 minimum of 12 months beginning with the first month 

20 in which such refugee entered the United States.’’. 

21 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

22 subsection (a) shall become effective on the earlier of— 

23 (1) the first day of the first fiscal year that be24 gins after the date of the enactment of this Act; or 


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1 (2) the date on which a final rule is promul2 gated to implement this section. 

3 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The 12-month speci4 fication contained in the amendments made by subsection 

5 (a) is a minimum standard for the provision of services 

6 to the refugee community. No part of this Act shall be 

7 interpreted as limiting or reducing assistance already pro8 vided for a period longer than 12 months. 

9 SEC. 9. REFUGEE INTEGRATION GRANTS. 

10 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGEE INTEGRATION

11 GRANTS.—The Director of the Office of Refugee Resettle12 ment is authorized to award grants to community-based 

13 organizations, national nonprofit organizations having ex14 perience and expertise in immigration law and the legal, 

15 social, educational, or cultural needs of immigrants, and 

16 national resettlement agencies for the design and imple17 mentation of programs to offer training and orientation 

18 to newcomers to the United States to assist them in inte19 grating into the civic life of the United States. 

20 (b) SERVICES FUNDED.—Programs funded under 

21 subsection (a) shall be used— 

22 (1) to offer assistance and instruction to aliens 

23 described in subsection (c), on— 

24 (A) the naturalization process; 


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1 (B) the legal requirements for naturaliza2 tion; 

3 (C) rights and responsibilities of U.S. citi4 zens; 

5 (D) cultural orientation; 

6 (E) English as a second language; 

7 (F) civics and United States history; 

8 (G) housing; 

9 (H) transportation; 

10 (I) recertification; 

11 (J) employment training; 

12 (K) mental health services; 

13 (L) childcare services; and 

14 (M) other topics the Director identifies as 

15 aiding the orientation and adjustment of new 

16 arrivals to the United States; 

17 (2) to offer orientation and assistance to Fed18 eral, State, and local institutions that serve new19 comers to the United States so as to assist such in20 stitutions in meeting their needs; and 

21 (3) to provide technical assistance and training 

22 to community-based organizations providing instruc23 tion in English as a second language, civics, and 

24 United States history and technical assistance and 


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1 training to community-based organizations providing 

2 naturalization outreach and application assistance. 

3 (c) ELIGIBLE PERSONS.—Persons eligible for assist4 ance and instruction under this subsection include— 

5 (1) aliens admitted as refugees under section 

6 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

7 U.S.C. 1157); 

8 (2) aliens granted asylum under section 208 of 

9 such Act (8 U.S.C. 1158); 

10 (3) aliens admitted as special immigrants from 

11 Iraq or Afghanistan pursuant to section 1244 of 

12 Public Law 110–181; 

13 (4) any alien who was at any time eligible to re14 ceive services from the Office of Refugee Resettle15 ment; and 

16 (5) other aliens designated by the Director of 

17 the Office of Refugee Resettlement. 

18 (d) APPLICATION FOR GRANTS.—Each entity desir19 ing a refugee integration grant under this section shall 

20 submit an application to the Director at such time and 

21 in such manner as the Director may require. 

22 (e) PRIORITY.—In selecting grantees, the Director 

23 shall give priority to organizations either with experience 

24 in resettling refugees or in administering services for refu25 gees and asylum seekers. 


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1 (f) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Beginning 180 days 

2 after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 

3 thereafter, the Director shall report to the Judiciary Com4 mittees of the Senate and the House of Representatives 

5 a report on the implementation of this section. The report 

6 shall include information regarding the grants issued pur7 suant to this section and the results of those grants. 

8 SEC. 10. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM EXPANSION. 

9 (a) USE OF THE REFUGEE MATCHING GRANT PRO10 GRAM.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—In recognition of the positive 

12 outcomes achieved for individuals served through the 

13 refugee matching grant program, under which Fed14 eral funds are matched by private sector contribu15 tions of cash, goods, and volunteers, the Director of 

16 the Office of Refugee Resettlement shall ensure that 

17 the thresholds described in paragraph (2) are met 

18 with respect to participation by eligible individuals in 

19 such program. 

20 (2) ANNUAL THRESHOLDS.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the avail22 ability of funds appropriated for this purpose, 

23 the percentage of eligible individuals who apply 

24 for services under the matching grant program 

25 who shall be served through such program is 


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1 set at the following levels in each of the fol2 lowing fiscal years— 

3 (i) at least 60 percent in fiscal year 

4 2014; 

5 (ii) at least 70 percent in fiscal year 

6 2015; and 

7 (iii) at least 80 percent in fiscal year 

8 2016, and thereafter. 

9 (B) EXCEPTIONS.—In determining the 

10 thresholds in this paragraph, the Director shall 

11 exclude individuals who are disabled, under the 

12 age of 18, or over the age of 65 unless such in13 dividuals are being served as members of an eli14 gible family. 

15 (3) LENGTH OF ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT.—In16 dividuals as described in subparagraph (2)(B) shall 

17 be eligible for services under the matching grant 

18 program, and therefore be expected to achieve self19 sufficiency, within 180 to 240 days of their enroll20 ment in the program. 

21 (4) AMOUNT OF GRANT.— 

22 (A) ANNUAL UPDATE.—Subject to the 

23 availability of funds appropriated for this pur24 pose, beginning with fiscal year 2014, the Di25 rector shall, when setting the amount of the 


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1 matching grants, ensure that the grant amount 

2 is adjusted annually so that it is adequate to 

3 provide for services intended to help refugees 

4 become self-sufficient within 180 to 240 days, 

5 including adjusting the amount for inflation 

6 and the cost of living. 

7 (B) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 30 days 

8 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Di9 rector shall undertake an assessment of the per 

10 capita amount that is provided in the matching 

11 grant program. The assessment shall— 

12 (i) examine the adequacy of the cur13 rent per capita grant amount to provide 

14 the assistance necessary to enable individ15 uals who are served by the program to 

16 achieve self-sufficiency within 240 days; 

17 (ii) determine the per capita grant 

18 amount that would be necessary in order 

19 to provide the assistance necessary to en20 able individuals who are served by the pro21 gram achieve self-sufficiency within 240 

22 days; 

23 (iii) assess the potential impact of any 

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1 Federal partners suggest to improve the 

2 effectiveness of the program. 

3 (C) CONSULTATION WITH PARTNERS.—In 

4 conducting the assessment referred to in sub5 paragraph (B), the Director shall consult with 

6 representatives of national and local resettle7 ment agencies with experience in providing 

8 services under the matching grant program to 

9 learn their views on the program, including 

10 their views with respect to clauses (i) through 

11 (iv) of subparagraph (B). 

12 (D) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later 

13 than 120 days after the date of enactment of 

14 this Act, the Director shall report to the appro15 priate committees of Congress the results of the 

16 assessment made pursuant to subparagraph 

17 (B). Such report shall include— 

18 (i) the Director’s findings pursuant to 

19 subparagraph (B); 

20 (ii) the amount of the per capita 

21 grant that will be provided beginning on 

22 the first day of the first fiscal year that be23 gins after the date of enactment of this 

24 Act; and 


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1 (iii) a summary of the views expressed 

2 by the entities described in subparagraph 

3 (C). 

4 (E) GRANT AMOUNT IN ABSENCE OF RE5 PORT.—If for any reason the report described 

6 in subparagraph (D) is not filed with the appro7 priate committees of the Congress on or before 

8 the required date for the submission of such re9 port, the per capita matching grant amount for 

10 the first fiscal year that begins after the date 

11 of enactment of this Act shall be set at the 

12 amount set for such grant on September 30 of 

13 the previous fiscal year and prorated to reflect 

14 a 180- to 240-day grant period. 

15 SEC. 11. DOMESTIC EMERGENCY REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT 

16 FUND. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a Domestic 

18 Emergency Refugee Resettlement Fund that shall be 

19 available to the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettle20 ment to meet unanticipated resettlement needs. 

21 (b) DRAWDOWN OF FUNDS.—Whenever the Director 

22 determines it to be important to the national interest, the 

23 Director is authorized to furnish on such terms and condi24 tions as the Director may determine, assistance under this 

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1 settlement needs of populations and communities served 

2 pursuant to this chapter, including communities experi3 encing high numbers of arrivals of refugees due to sec4 ondary migration. 

5 (c) ALLOWABLE USES.—The Director may furnish 

6 assistance to eligible entities for the purposes of providing 

7 resettlement assistance to refugees, including transpor8 tation, housing, employment, health, mental health, 

9 English language training services, recertification, and 

10 other purposes as determined by the Director. 

11 (d) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES DEFINED.—National reset12 tlement agencies, community-based organizations, torture 

13 survivor rehabilitation centers and programs, and States. 

14 (e) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—No amounts 

15 may be withdrawn from the fund authorized by subsection 

16 (a) unless the Director has determined that a domestic 

17 resettlement emergency exists and has certified such fact 

18 to appropriate committees of Congress. 

19 (f) CAP ON FUND.—No funds may be appropriated 

20 which when added to the amounts previously appropriated 

21 but not yet obligated, would cause such amounts to exceed 

22 $50,000,000. 

23 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Funds 

24 appropriated pursuant to this section shall be available 

25 until expended. 


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1 SEC. 12. SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME BENEFITS. 

2 Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and 

3 Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 

4 1612(a)(2)) is amended— 

5 (1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as 

6 follows: 

7 ‘‘(A) EXCEPTION FOR REFUGEES AND

8 ASYLEES.—With respect to the specified Fed9 eral programs described in paragraph (3), para10 graph (1) shall not apply to— 

11 ‘‘(i) an alien admitted to the United 

12 States as a refugee under section 207 of 

13 the Immigration and Nationality Act 8 

14 U.S.C. 1157; 

15 ‘‘(ii) an alien granted asylum under 

16 section 208 of such Act 8 U.S.C. 1158; 

17 ‘‘(iii) an alien whose deportation is 

18 withheld under section 243(h) of such Act 

19 8 U.S.C. 1253 (as in effect immediately 

20 before the effective date of section 307 of 

21 division C of Public Law 104–208) or sec22 tion 241(b)(3) of such Act 8 U.S.C. 

23 1231(b)(3) (as amended by section 305(a) 

24 of division C of Public Law 104–208); 

25 ‘‘(iv) an alien who is granted status as 

26 a Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined 


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1 in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education 

2 Assistance Act of 1980); or 

3 ‘‘(v) an alien who is admitted to the 

4 United States as an Amerasian immigrant 

5 pursuant to section 584 of the Foreign Op6 erations, Export Financing, and Related 

7 Programs Appropriations Act, 1988 (as 

8 contained in section 101(e) of Public Law 

9 100–202 and amended by the 9th proviso 

10 under migration and refugee assistance in 

11 title II of the Foreign Operations, Export 

12 Financing, and Related Programs Appro13 priations Act, 1989, Public Law 100–461, 

14 as amended).’’; and 

15 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

16 ‘‘(N) SSI BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN ALIENS

17 AND VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING.—Beginning on 

18 the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, 

19 any qualified alien (as defined in section 

20 431(b)), victim of trafficking in persons (as de21 fined in section 107(b)(1)(C) of division A of 

22 the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protec23 tion Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–386)), or 

24 alien granted status under section 

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1 tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(T)(ii)) ren2 dered ineligible for the specified Federal pro3 gram described in paragraph (3)(A) solely by 

4 reason of the termination of the 7-year period 

5 described in subparagraph (A) prior to the en6 actment of this subparagraph shall be eligible 

7 for benefits under such program without regard 

8 to subparagraph (A).’’. 

9 SEC. 13. MAKING SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS 

10 BENEFICIARIES AND UNACCOMPANIED CHIL11 DREN GRANTED ‘‘U’’ VISA PROTECTION ELIGI12 BLE FOR FOSTER CARE AND REFUGEE BENE13 FITS. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 235(d)(4) of the William 

15 Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthoriza16 tion Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232(d)(4)) is amended— 

17 (1) in subparagraph (A)— 

18 (A) by striking ‘‘either’’; 

19 (B) by striking ‘‘or who’’ and inserting a 

20 comma; 

21 (C) by inserting ‘‘, or has been granted 

22 status under section 101(a)(15)(U) of the Im23 migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

24 1101(a)(15)(U))’’ before ‘‘, shall’’; and 


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1 (D) by striking ‘‘be eligible for’’ and in2 serting ‘‘receive’’; and 

3 (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘or sta4 tus under section 101(a)(15)(U) of the Immigration 

5 and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(U)),’’ 

6 after ‘‘(8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J))’’. 

7 (b) ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS AND SERVICES.— 

8 Section 107(b)(1)(A) of the Victims of Trafficking and Vi9 olence Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(A)) 

10 is amended by inserting ‘‘, an alien who has been granted 

11 special immigrant status under section 101(a)(27)(J) of 

12 the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

13 1101(a)(27)(J)), a child who has been granted status 

14 under section 101(a)(15)(U) of the Immigration and Na15 tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15(U)),’’ after ‘‘traf16 ficking in persons,’’. 

17 (c) STATE REIMBURSEMENT.—Subject to the avail18 ability of funds appropriated for this purpose, if State fos19 ter care funds are expended on behalf of a child who has 

20 been granted special immigrant status under section 

21 101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

22 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)), the Federal Government shall re23 imburse the State in which the child resides for such ex24 penditures by the State. 

Æ 


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