I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1784 
To reform and modernize domestic refugee resettlement programs, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 26, 2013 
Mr. PETERS of Michigan (for himself, Mr. STIVERS, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. CHU, 
Mr. ELLISON, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HONDA, Mr. 
HUIZENGA of Michigan, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. 
MCGOVERN, Mr. MORAN, Mr. POLIS, and Mr. SCHIFF) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To reform and modernize domestic refugee resettlement 
programs, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Domestic Refugee Re-
settlement Reform and Modernization Act of 2013’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress makes the following findings: 
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(1) The United States has enhanced and accel-
erated its efforts to resettle Iraqi refugees since 
2007. 
(2) Resettlement in the United States remains 
an important option for refugees around the world 
that lack any other durable solution. 
(3) Many of these refugees are victims of tor-
ture and persecution, or were forced to flee because 
of support they gave to American military, Govern-
ment, or media operations. 
(4) Refugees are often a product of human 
rights atrocities and war, making them likely to have 
suffered traumatic events which require the United 
States to offer them protection and meet their needs 
once they arrive here. 
(5) In fiscal year year 2012, a total of 58,238 
refugees were resettled in the United States, includ-
ing 12,163 from Iraq. 
(6) Upon arrival in the United States, there is 
authorized up to 36 months of cash and medical as-
sistance available to refugees, as well as access to so-
cial services, such as job placement, from the Office 
of Refugee Resettlement, but in practice refugees re-
ceive only 8 months of cash and medical assistance. 
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(7) When given adequate support through the 
resettlement system, refugees can successfully be-
come self-sufficient and contribute positively to their 
communities. 
(8) Additional resources and better data could 
strengthen refugee services and better respond to 
the need of highly vulnerable refugees. 
(9) ORR funding formulas are retroactive in 
nature, using refugee admission data from up to 3 
prior years, so that large increases in refugee admis-
sions are not adequately reflected in the amount of 
resources provided by ORR. 
(10) The United States resettlement policy as-
sumes refugees will be able to quickly become self- 
sufficient, while specifically offering resettlement to 
individuals who have specific vulnerabilities that in-
hibit their ability to achieve self-sufficiency and inte-
grate into society. 
(11) Some refugees will have mental health dif-
ficulties associated with trauma or torture and this 
is one of the significant barriers to self-sufficiency 
and integration into a community when it is not ad-
dressed with adequate and appropriate services. 
(12) Secondary migration is not properly 
tracked, and resources are not available for States 
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and agencies experiencing high levels of secondary 
migration. 
(13) Refugee services are provided by national 
resettlement agencies, community based organiza-
tions, charities, and nonprofits and coordinated lo-
cally by State refugee programs, and all the organi-
zations should be supported in their mission to pro-
vide refugee services. 
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This Act shall take effect on the date that is 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4. ASSESSMENT OF THE REFUGEE DOMESTIC RESET-
TLEMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall conduct a study regarding the 
effectiveness of the domestic refugee resettlement pro-
grams operated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE STUDIED.—In the study re-
quired under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall 
determine and analyze the following: 
(1) How the Office of Refugee Resettlement de-
fines self-sufficiency and if this definition is ade-
quate in addressing refugee needs in the United 
States. 
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