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 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 
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 per-
sons 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 persecu-
tion 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 ref-
ugees or displaced women in situations of humanitarian 
crisis suffer sexual violence, a figure which is likely un-
derestimated; 
(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, Af-
ghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia, includ-
ing 6,654,000 refugees from Syria alone; 
(8) there were more than 13,000,000 forcibly dis-
placed 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 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—
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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 orga-
nizations 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 pol-
icy, strengthen national and regional security, and en-
courage 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 ref-
ugee 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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of refugees who live without material, social, or legal 
protections. 
Attest: 
Clerk.