H. Res. 444 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 24, 2019. 

Whereas the United States has historically served as the 

benchmark for establishing a comprehensive response to 

displacement crises around the world, as well as for promoting the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and 

displaced persons; 

Whereas June 20 is observed as World Refugee Day, a global 

day to acknowledge the courage, strength, resilience, and 

determination of women, men, and children who are 

forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence, and 

persecution; 

Whereas, in 2018, according to the United Nations High 

Commissioner for Refugees— 

(1) there were more than 70,800,000 displaced persons worldwide, the worst displacement crisis in global 

history, including more than 25,900,000 refugees, over 

41,300,000 internally displaced persons, and 3,500,000 

people seeking asylum; 

(2) on average, 37,000 people were forced from their 

homes each day in the absence of peace and reconciliation 

in countries where armed conflict, violence, and persecution continue to reign; 
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(3) 13,600,000 new individuals and families were 

displaced, the majority of whom were displaced within the 

borders of their own countries; 

(4) 60 percent of preventable maternal deaths occur 

in situations of conflict and displacement, and 1 in 5 refugees or displaced women in situations of humanitarian 

crisis suffer sexual violence, a figure which is likely underestimated; 

(5) children accounted for about half of all refugees, 

only half of them attend school; 

(6) refugee children were five times more likely to be 

out of school than children who are not displaced, with 

refugee girls having less access to school than refugee 

boys; 

(7) 67 percent of all refugees came from Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia, including 6,654,000 refugees from Syria alone; 

(8) there were more than 13,000,000 forcibly displaced Syrians, including 6,654,000 refugees, 6,184,000 

internally displaced people, and 140,000 asylum-seekers; 

and 

(9) 84 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; and 

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

serves to strengthen global security, advance United 

States foreign policy goals, and support regional host 

countries while serving individuals and families in need: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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(1) reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of the 

United States to promote the safety, health, education, 

and well-being of the millions of refugees and displaced 

persons uprooted by war, persecution, and violence in 

search of peace, hope, and freedom; 

(2) supports those who have risked their lives, 

working either individually or for nongovernmental organizations or international agencies such as the United 

Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to provide 

life-saving assistance and protection to those displaced 

around the world; 

(3) underscores the importance of the United States 

refugee resettlement program as a critical tool for 

United States global leadership to leverage foreign policy, strengthen national and regional security, and encourage international solidarity with host countries; 

(4) calls upon the United States Secretary of State 

and United States Ambassador to the United Nations 

to— 

(A) continue supporting robust funding for refugee protection and humanitarian response overseas 

and resettlement to the United States; 

(B) uphold the United States international 

leadership role in responding to displacement crises 

with humanitarian assistance, and restore its lead-
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ership 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, 

promote peace and reconciliation, and prevent new 

conflicts from beginning; 

(D) continue supporting the efforts of the 

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 

and 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 to protect the millions 
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of refugees who live without material, social, or legal 

protections. 

Attest: 

Clerk.