IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 444 
Reaffirming the importance of the United States to promote the safety, 
health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 14, 2019 
Mr. TED LIEU of California (for himself, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. NEGUSE, and 
Mr. DIAZ-BALART) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee 
on the Judiciary, 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 
RESOLUTION 
Reaffirming the importance of the United States to promote 
the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and dis-
placed persons. 
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 pro-
moting 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 
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forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence, and 
persecution; 
Whereas, in 2017, according to the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees— 
(1) there were more than 68,500,000 displaced per-
sons worldwide, the worst displacement crisis in global 
history, including more than 25,400,000 refugees, over 
40,000,000 internally displaced persons, and 3,100,000 
people seeking asylum; 
(2) on average, 44,400 people were forced from their 
homes each day in the absence of peace and reconciliation 
in countries where armed conflict, violence, and persecu-
tion continue to reign; 
(3) 16,200,000 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 ref-
ugees or displaced women in situations of humanitarian 
crisis suffer sexual violence, a figure which is likely un-
derestimated; 
(5) children accounted for 52 percent 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) 68 percent of all refugees came from Syria, Af-
ghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia, includ-
ing 6,300,000 refugees from Syria alone; 
(8) there were more than 12,600,000 forcibly dis-
placed Syrians, including 6,300,000 refugees, 6,200,000 
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internally displaced people, and 146,700 asylum-seekers; 
and 
(9) 85 percent of all refugees were hosted by devel-
oping nations, and less than 1 percent of vulnerable refu-
gees in need of resettlement had the opportunity to reset-
tle because sufficient numbers of places do not exist; and 
Whereas the United States resettlement program is a life-sav-
ing 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— 
(1) reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of the 
United States to promote the safety, health, edu-
cation, 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 secu-
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rity, 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 leadership role in the protection of vulner-
able refugee populations that endure sexual vio-
lence, human trafficking, persecution and vio-
lence against religious minorities, forced con-
scription, genocide, and exploitation; 
(C) work in partnership with the inter-
national 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 Refu-
gees and to advance the work of nongovern-
mental organizations to protect refugees regard-
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less of their country of origin or religious be-
liefs; 
(E) continue to alleviate pressures on 
frontline refugee host countries that absorb the 
majority of the world’s refugees through hu-
manitarian 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 of refugees who live without material, social, 
or legal protections. 
Æ 
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