I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2798 
To modify provisions of law relating to refugee resettlement, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 17, 2015 
Mr. ELLISON (for himself, Ms. MOORE, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. JOHNSON of 
Georgia, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. GUTIE´RREZ, Ms. JACKSON 
LEE, Mr. HONDA, Mr. WELCH, Ms. LEE, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. HASTINGS, 
Ms. NORTON, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. CONYERS, 
Mrs. DAVIS of California, and Ms. JUDY CHU of California) 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 jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To modify provisions of law relating to refugee resettlement, 
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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Strengthening Refugee Resettlement Act’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Security checks. 
Sec. 3. English language and work orientation training for approved refugee 
applicants. 
Sec. 4. Lawful permanent resident status of refugees and aliens granted asy-
lum. 
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 unaccom-
panied children granted ‘‘U’’ visa protection eligible for refugee 
benefits. 
SEC. 2. SECURITY CHECKS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—Although effective secu-
rity checks are needed to ensure that the United States 
and the Nation’s refugee admissions program are ade-
quately protected, it is the sense of the Congress that the 
failure to properly coordinate security and non-security 
clearance procedures has had negative impacts on the 
processing of vulnerable individuals who are in need of, 
and eligible for, resettlement to the United States. 
(b) REVIEW OF REFUGEE PROCESSING.—The Sec-
retary of Homeland Security shall work with the heads 
of other relevant Federal agencies, including the Depart-
ment of State, to conduct a review of refugee processing, 
including security clearances, with the goal of streamlining 
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processing, consistent with maintaining thorough security 
vetting. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall submit to the Congress a report on the re-
sults of the review conducted under subsection (b). The 
report shall include a description of recommended changes 
to streamline processing and the costs associated with any 
unfunded needs. 
SEC. 3. ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND WORK ORIENTATION 
TRAINING FOR APPROVED REFUGEE APPLI-
CANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall es-
tablish overseas refugee training programs to provide 
English as a second language and work orientation train-
ing for refugees who have been approved for admission 
to the United States before their departure for the United 
States. 
(b) DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION.—In designing 
and implementing the programs referred to in subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall consult with or use— 
(1) nongovernmental or international organiza-
tions with direct ties to the United States refugee 
resettlement program; and 
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(2) nongovernmental or international organiza-
tions with appropriate expertise in developing cur-
riculum and teaching English as a second language. 
(c) IMPACT ON PROCESSING TIMES.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that such training programs occur within ap-
plicable processing times and do not unduly delay the de-
parture for the United States of refugees who have been 
approved for admission to the United States. 
(d) TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 
1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall ensure that such training pro-
grams are fully and continually operational in at 
least 3 refugee processing regions. 
(2) ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later 
than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate con-
gressional committees that such training programs 
are fully and consistently operational in 5 refugee 
processing regions. 
(e) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall conduct a study on the imple-
mentation of this section, including an assessment of the 
quality of English as a second language curriculum and 
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instruction, the benefits of the work orientation and 
English as a second language training program to refu-
gees, and recommendations on whether such programs 
should be continued, broadened, or modified, and shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a re-
port on the findings of such study. 
(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to require that a refugee partici-
pate in such a training program as a precondition for the 
admission to the United States of such refugee. 
SEC. 4. LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS OF REFU-
GEES AND ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM. 
(a) ADMISSION OF EMERGENCY SITUATION REFU-
GEES.—Section 207(c) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ the 
first time it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of 
Homeland Security’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ each 
additional place it appears and inserting ‘‘Sec-
retary’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘(except as otherwise pro-
vided under paragraph (3)) as an immigrant 
under this Act.’’ and inserting ‘‘(except as pro-
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vided under subsections (b) and (c) of section 
209) as an immigrant under this Act. Notwith-
standing any numerical limitations specified in 
this Act, any alien admitted under this para-
graph shall be regarded as lawfully admitted to 
the United States for permanent residence as of 
the date of such alien’s admission to the United 
States.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)(A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(except as otherwise pro-
vided under paragraph (3))’’ and inserting 
‘‘(except as provided under subsections (b) and 
(c) of section 209)’’; and 
(B) by striking the last sentence and in-
serting the following: ‘‘An alien admitted to the 
United States as a refugee may petition for his 
or her spouse or child to follow to join him or 
her in the United States at any time after such 
alien’s admission, notwithstanding his or her 
treatment as a lawful permanent resident as of 
the date of his or her admission to the United 
States.’’; 
(3) by striking paragraph (3); 
(4) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para-
graph (3); and 
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(5) in paragraph (3), as redesignated— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ the 
first place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary 
of Homeland Security’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ each 
additional place it appears and inserting ‘‘Sec-
retary’’. 
(b) TREATMENT OF SPOUSE AND CHILDREN.—Sec-
tion 208(b)(3) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(3)) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as sub-
paragraph (E); and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) PETITION.—An alien granted asylum 
under this subsection may petition for the same 
status to be conferred on his or her spouse or 
child at any time after such alien is granted 
asylum whether or not such alien has applied 
for, or been granted, adjustment to permanent 
resident status under section 209. 
‘‘(C) PERMANENT
RESIDENT
STATUS.— 
Notwithstanding 
any 
numerical 
limitations 
specified in this Act, a spouse or child admitted 
to the United States as an asylee following to 
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join a spouse or parent previously granted asy-
lum shall be regarded as lawfully admitted to 
the United States for permanent residence as of 
the date of such spouse’s or child’s admission to 
the United States. 
‘‘(D) APPLICATION FOR ADJUSTMENT OF 
STATUS.—A spouse or child who was not admit-
ted to the United States pursuant to a grant of 
asylum, but who was granted asylum under this 
subparagraph after his or her arrival as the 
spouse or child of an alien granted asylum 
under section 208, may apply for adjustment of 
status to that of lawful permanent resident 
under section 209 at any time after being 
granted asylum.’’. 
(c) REFUGEES.—Section 209 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 
1159) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 209. TREATMENT OF ALIENS ADMITTED AS REFU-
GEES AND ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) TREATMENT
OF
REFUGEES.—Notwith-
standing any numerical limitations specified in this 
Act, any alien who has been admitted to the United 
States under section 207 shall be regarded as law-
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fully admitted to the United States for permanent 
residence as of the date of such admission. 
‘‘(2) TREATMENT
OF
SPOUSE
AND
CHIL-
DREN.—Notwithstanding any numerical limitations 
specified in this Act, any alien admitted to the 
United States under section 208(b)(3) as the spouse 
or child of an alien granted asylum under section 
208(b)(1) shall be regarded as lawfully admitted to 
the United States for permanent residence as of the 
date of such admission. 
‘‘(3) ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS.—The Secretary 
of Homeland Security or the Attorney General, in 
the discretion of the Secretary or the Attorney Gen-
eral, and under such regulations as the Secretary or 
the Attorney General may prescribe, may adjust, to 
the status of an alien lawfully admitted to the 
United States for permanent residence, the status of 
any alien who, while in the United States— 
‘‘(A) is granted— 
‘‘(i) asylum under section 208(b) (as 
a principal alien or as the spouse or child 
of an alien granted asylum); or 
‘‘(ii) refugee status under section 207 
as the spouse or child of a refugee; 
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‘‘(B) applies for such adjustment of status 
at any time after being granted asylum or ref-
ugee status; 
‘‘(C) is not firmly resettled in any foreign 
country; and 
‘‘(D) is admissible (except as otherwise 
provided under subsections (b) and (c)) as an 
immigrant under this Act at the time of exam-
ination for adjustment of such alien. 
‘‘(4) RECORD.—Upon approval of an applica-
tion under this subsection, the Secretary of Home-
land Security or the Attorney General shall establish 
a record of the alien’s admission for lawful perma-
nent residence as of the date such alien was granted 
asylum or refugee status. 
‘‘(5) DOCUMENT ISSUANCE.—An alien who has 
been admitted to the United States under section 
207 or 208 or who adjusts to the status of a lawful 
permanent resident as a refugee or asylee under this 
section shall be issued documentation indicating that 
such alien is a lawful permanent resident pursuant 
to a grant of refugee or asylum status. 
‘‘(b) INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN INADMISSIBILITY 
GROUNDS
TO REFUGEES, ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM, 
AND SUCH ALIENS SEEKING ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS TO 
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LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT.—Paragraphs (4), (5), 
and (7)(A) of section 212(a) shall not apply to— 
‘‘(1) any refugee under section 207; 
‘‘(2) any alien granted asylum under section 
208; or 
‘‘(3) any alien seeking admission as a lawful 
permanent resident pursuant to a grant of refugee 
or asylum status. 
‘‘(c) WAIVER
OF INADMISSIBILITY
OR DEPORT-
ABILITY FOR REFUGEES, ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM, AND 
SUCH ALIENS SEEKING ADJUSTMENT
OF STATUS
TO 
LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Secretary of Homeland Security or 
the Attorney General may waive any ground of inad-
missibility under section 212 or any ground of de-
portability under section 237 for a refugee admitted 
under section 207, an alien granted asylum under 
section 208, or an alien seeking admission as a law-
ful permanent resident pursuant to a grant of ref-
ugee or asylum status if the Secretary or the Attor-
ney General determines that such waiver is justified 
by humanitarian purposes, to ensure family unity, or 
is otherwise in the public interest. 
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‘‘(2) INELIGIBILITY.—A refugee under section 
207, an alien granted asylum under section 208, or 
an alien seeking admission as a lawful permanent 
resident pursuant to a grant of refugee or asylum 
status shall be ineligible for a waiver under para-
graph (1) if it has been established that the alien 
is— 
‘‘(A) 
inadmissible 
under 
section 
212(a)(2)(C) or subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or 
(E) of section 212(a)(3); 
‘‘(B) 
deportable 
under 
section 
237(a)(2)(A)(iii) for an offense described in 
section 101(a)(43)(B); or 
‘‘(C) deportable under subparagraph (A), 
(B), (C), or (D) of section 237(a)(4).’’. 
(d) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) ALIENS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECT NUMER-
ICAL
LIMITATIONS.—Section 201(b)(1)(B) of the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1151(b)(1)(B)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) Aliens who are admitted to the United 
States as permanent residents under section 207 or 
208 or whose status is adjusted under section 209.’’. 
(2) TRAINING.—Section 207(f)(1) of such Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1157(f)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘At-
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torney General’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Home-
land Security’’. 
(3) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of con-
tents for such Act is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 209 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 209. Treatment of aliens admitted as refugees and aliens granted asy-
lum.’’. 
(e) SAVINGS PROVISIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in the amendments 
made by this section may be construed to limit ac-
cess to the benefits described at chapter 2 of title IV 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1521 et seq.). 
(2) CLARIFICATION.—Aliens admitted for law-
ful permanent residence under section 207 or 208 of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1157; 1158) or who adjust status to lawful perma-
nent resident under section 209 of such Act (8 
U.S.C. 1159) shall be considered to be refugees and 
aliens granted asylum in accordance with sections 
402, 403, 412, and 431 of the Personal Responsi-
bility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 
1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612; 1613; 1622; 1641). 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section, and the amend-
ments made by this section, shall become effective on the 
earlier of— 
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(1) the date that is 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act; or 
(2) the date on which a final rule is promul-
gated to implement this section. 
SEC. 5. UPDATE OF RECEPTION AND PLACEMENT GRANTS. 
Beginning with fiscal year 2016, the Secretary of 
State shall, when setting the amount of the reception and 
placement grants for refugees, ensure that— 
(1) the grant amount is adjusted so that it is 
adequate to provide for the anticipated initial reset-
tlement needs of refugees, including adjusting the 
amount for inflation and the cost of living; 
(2) the administrative proportion of the grant is 
provided at the beginning of the fiscal year to each 
national resettlement agency that is sufficient to en-
sure adequate local and national capacity to serve 
the initial resettlement needs of refugees the Sec-
retary anticipates the agency will resettle throughout 
the fiscal year; and 
(3) additional amounts are provided to each na-
tional resettlement agency promptly upon the arrival 
of refugees that, exclusive of the amounts provided 
pursuant to paragraph (2), are sufficient to meet the 
anticipated initial resettlement needs of such refu-
gees and support local and national operational costs 
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in excess of the estimates described in paragraph 
(1). 
SEC. 6. COORDINATION OF REFUGEE PROGRAM AGENCIES. 
It is the sense of the Congress that— 
(1) the President should appoint a White House 
Coordinator on Refugee Protection and grant such 
official the authority and staff necessary to coordi-
nate, prioritize, and lead efforts to address refugee 
protection issues that involve multiple agencies, in-
cluding the refugee admissions program, and to re-
solve interagency differences in a timely, efficient, 
and effective manner; and 
(2) this position should be at a senior level and 
require as a condition for appointment a significant 
level of prior experience in the refugee protection 
field. 
SEC. 7. CASE MANAGEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
GRANT
PROGRAM.— 
The Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement 
shall make grants to national resettlement agencies 
to operate a case management system to assist 
qualified individuals in accessing services, benefits, 
and assistance for which they are eligible that are 
provided by— 
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(A) the Office of Refugee Resettlement 
(the ‘‘Office’’); 
(B) other Federal, State, or local agencies; 
and 
(C) private or nonprofit organizations. 
(2) QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS.—Subject to para-
graphs (3) and (4), any individual who was at any 
time eligible for resettlement, acculturation, or sub-
sistence services provided by the Office shall be 
qualified to receive the case management services de-
scribed in paragraph (1). 
(3) PERIOD
OF
QUALIFICATION.—Except as 
provided in paragraph (4), an individual described in 
paragraph (2) shall be qualified to receive the case 
management services described in paragraph (1) 
during the period beginning on the date such indi-
vidual was determined to be eligible for resettlement, 
acculturation, or subsistence services provided by the 
Office, and continuing for 1 year after the date on 
which such individual ceases to be eligible for such 
resettlement, acculturation, or subsistence service. 
(4) 
EXCEPTIONS
FOR
EXCEPTIONAL
CIR-
CUMSTANCES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding para-
graph (3), an individual described in subpara-
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graph (B) shall be qualified to receive the case 
management services described in paragraph 
(1) during the period beginning on the date on 
which such individual was determined eligible 
for resettlement, acculturation, or subsistence 
services provided by the Office, and continuing 
for 3 years after the date on which such indi-
vidual ceases to be eligible for such resettle-
ment, acculturation, or subsistence services. 
(B) EXCEPTIONAL
CIRCUMSTANCES.—An 
individual described in paragraph (2) may be 
treated in accordance with subparagraph (A) if 
such individual— 
(i) is elderly; 
(ii) has extraordinary resettlement or 
acculturation needs that impede such indi-
vidual’s ability to achieve durable self-suffi-
ciency; 
(iii) is a refugee who was resettled 
from a situation of protracted displace-
ment; 
(iv) is a member of a family caring for 
an unattached refugee minor; or 
(v) at the time of entry— 
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(I) had a disability or serious 
medical condition; 
(II) had mental health condi-
tions; 
(III) was part of a household 
headed by a single parent; or 
(IV) had been the victim of a se-
vere form of violence. 
(5) DEFINITION
OF
RESETTLEMENT, ACCUL-
TURATION, OR
SUBSISTENCE
SERVICES.—For the 
purposes of this section, the term, ‘‘resettlement, ac-
culturation, or subsistence services’’ shall include all 
of the services provided by the Office to aliens, with 
the exception of the case management services pro-
vided under paragraph (1). 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary to carry out this section. 
(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed as affecting the authority of the Director 
under section 412(e)(7)(A) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1522(e)(7)(A)), or of any other 
section of such Act, to provide case management services 
to individuals who have been in the United States for 
longer than 36 months. 
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SEC. 8. INCREASE IN CASH PAYMENTS. 
(a) Section 412 of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1522) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(iv) Subject to the availability of funds appro-
priated for this purpose, assistance and social serv-
ices for employment, health and living expenses shall 
be available for a period of not less than 12 
months.’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)(5), by adding at the end 
the following: ‘‘Subject to the availability of funds 
appropriated for this purpose, assistance and serv-
ices shall be made available to refugees for a period 
of not less than 12 months.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (e)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(1)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(1)(A)’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated 
for this purpose, such assistance shall be provided for a 
minimum of 12 months beginning with the first month 
in which such refugee entered the United States.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall become effective on the earlier of— 
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(1) the first day of the first fiscal year that be-
gins after the date of the enactment of this Act; or 
(2) the date on which a final rule is promul-
gated to implement this section. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The 12-month speci-
fication contained in the amendments made by subsection 
(a) is a minimum standard for the provision of services 
to the refugee community. No part of this Act shall be 
interpreted as limiting or reducing assistance already pro-
vided for a period longer than 12 months. 
SEC. 9. REFUGEE INTEGRATION GRANTS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF REFUGEE INTEGRATION 
GRANTS.—The Director of the Office of Refugee Resettle-
ment is authorized to award grants to community-based 
organizations, national nonprofit organizations having ex-
perience and expertise in immigration law and the legal, 
social, educational, or cultural needs of immigrants, and 
national resettlement agencies for the design and imple-
mentation of programs to offer training and orientation 
to newcomers to the United States to assist them in inte-
grating into the civic life of the United States. 
(b) SERVICES FUNDED.—Programs funded under 
subsection (a) shall be used— 
(1) to offer assistance and instruction to aliens 
described in subsection (c), on— 
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(A) the naturalization process; 
(B) the legal requirements for naturaliza-
tion; 
(C) rights and responsibilities of U.S. citi-
zens; 
(D) cultural orientation; 
(E) English as a second language; 
(F) civics and United States history; 
(G) housing; 
(H) transportation; 
(I) recertification; 
(J) employment training; 
(K) mental health services; 
(L) childcare services; and 
(M) other topics the Director identifies as 
aiding the orientation and adjustment of new 
arrivals to the United States; 
(2) to offer orientation and assistance to Fed-
eral, State, and local institutions that serve new-
comers to the United States so as to assist such in-
stitutions in meeting their needs; and 
(3) to provide technical assistance and training 
to community-based organizations providing instruc-
tion in English as a second language, civics, and 
United States history and technical assistance and 
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training to community-based organizations providing 
naturalization outreach and application assistance. 
(c) ELIGIBLE PERSONS.—Persons eligible for assist-
ance and instruction under this subsection include— 
(1) aliens admitted as refugees under section 
207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1157); 
(2) aliens granted asylum under section 208 of 
such Act (8 U.S.C. 1158); 
(3) aliens admitted as special immigrants from 
Iraq or Afghanistan pursuant to section 1244 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2008 (Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 396); 
(4) any alien who was at any time eligible to re-
ceive services from the Office of Refugee Resettle-
ment; and 
(5) other aliens designated by the Director of 
the Office of Refugee Resettlement. 
(d) APPLICATION FOR GRANTS.—Each entity desir-
ing a refugee integration grant under this section shall 
submit an application to the Director at such time and 
in such manner as the Director may require. 
(e) PRIORITY.—In selecting grantees, the Director 
shall give priority to organizations either with experience 
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in resettling refugees or in administering services for refu-
gees and asylum seekers. 
(f) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Beginning 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter, the Director shall report to the Judiciary Com-
mittees of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a report on the implementation of this section. The report 
shall include information regarding the grants issued pur-
suant to this section and the results of those grants. 
SEC. 10. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM EXPANSION. 
(a) USE OF THE REFUGEE MATCHING GRANT PRO-
GRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In recognition of the positive 
outcomes achieved for individuals served through the 
refugee matching grant program, under which Fed-
eral funds are matched by private sector contribu-
tions of cash, goods, and volunteers, the Director of 
the Office of Refugee Resettlement shall ensure that 
the thresholds described in paragraph (2) are met 
with respect to participation by eligible individuals in 
such program. 
(2) ANNUAL THRESHOLDS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to the avail-
ability of funds appropriated for this purpose, 
the percentage of eligible individuals who apply 
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smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
for services under the matching grant program 
who shall be served through such program is 
set at the following levels in each of the fol-
lowing fiscal years— 
(i) at least 60 percent in fiscal year 
2016; 
(ii) at least 70 percent in fiscal year 
2017; and 
(iii) at least 80 percent in fiscal year 
2018, and thereafter. 
(B) EXCEPTIONS.—In determining the 
thresholds in this paragraph, the Director shall 
exclude individuals who are disabled, under the 
age of 18, or over the age of 65 unless such in-
dividuals are being served as members of an eli-
gible family. 
(3) LENGTH OF ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT.—In-
dividuals as described in subparagraph (2)(B) shall 
be eligible for services under the matching grant 
program, and therefore be expected to achieve self- 
sufficiency, within 180 to 240 days of their enroll-
ment in the program. 
(4) AMOUNT OF GRANT.— 
(A) ANNUAL
UPDATE.—Subject to the 
availability of funds appropriated for this pur-
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pose, beginning with fiscal year 2016, the Di-
rector shall, when setting the amount of the 
matching grants, ensure that the grant amount 
is adjusted annually so that it is adequate to 
provide for services intended to help refugees 
become self-sufficient within 180 to 240 days, 
including adjusting the amount for inflation 
and the cost of living. 
(B) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Di-
rector shall undertake an assessment of the per 
capita amount that is provided in the matching 
grant program. The assessment shall— 
(i) examine the adequacy of the cur-
rent per capita grant amount to provide 
the assistance necessary to enable individ-
uals who are served by the program to 
achieve self-sufficiency within 240 days; 
(ii) determine the per capita grant 
amount that would be necessary in order 
to provide the assistance necessary to en-
able individuals who are served by the pro-
gram achieve self-sufficiency within 240 
days; and 
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(iii) assess the potential impact of any 
other changes to the operation of the pro-
gram that the Director or the Office’s non- 
Federal partners suggest to improve the 
effectiveness of the program. 
(C) CONSULTATION WITH PARTNERS.—In 
conducting the assessment referred to in sub-
paragraph (B), the Director shall consult with 
representatives of national and local resettle-
ment agencies with experience in providing 
services under the matching grant program to 
learn their views on the program, including 
their views with respect to clauses (i) through 
(iv) of subparagraph (B). 
(D) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later 
than 120 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director shall report to the appro-
priate committees of Congress the results of the 
assessment made pursuant to subparagraph 
(B). Such report shall include— 
(i) the Director’s findings pursuant to 
subparagraph (B); 
(ii) the amount of the per capita 
grant that will be provided beginning on 
the first day of the first fiscal year that be-
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gins after the date of enactment of this 
Act; and 
(iii) a summary of the views expressed 
by the entities described in subparagraph 
(C). 
(E) GRANT AMOUNT IN ABSENCE OF RE-
PORT.—If for any reason the report described 
in subparagraph (D) is not filed with the appro-
priate committees of the Congress on or before 
the required date for the submission of such re-
port, the per capita matching grant amount for 
the first fiscal year that begins after the date 
of enactment of this Act shall be set at the 
amount set for such grant on September 30 of 
the previous fiscal year and prorated to reflect 
a 180- to 240-day grant period. 
SEC. 11. DOMESTIC EMERGENCY REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT 
FUND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a Domestic 
Emergency Refugee Resettlement Fund that shall be 
available to the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettle-
ment to meet unanticipated resettlement needs. 
(b) DRAWDOWN OF FUNDS.—Whenever the Director 
determines it to be important to the national interest, the 
Director is authorized to furnish on such terms and condi-
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tions as the Director may determine, assistance under this 
chapter for the purpose of meeting unexpected urgent re-
settlement needs of populations and communities served 
pursuant to this chapter, including communities experi-
encing high numbers of arrivals of refugees due to sec-
ondary migration. 
(c) ALLOWABLE USES.—The Director may furnish 
assistance to eligible entities for the purposes of providing 
resettlement assistance to refugees, including transpor-
tation, housing, employment, health, mental health, 
English language training services, recertification, and 
other purposes as determined by the Director. 
(d) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES DEFINED.—National reset-
tlement agencies, community-based organizations, torture 
survivor rehabilitation centers and programs, and States. 
(e) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—No amounts 
may be withdrawn from the fund authorized by subsection 
(a) unless the Director has determined that a domestic 
resettlement emergency exists and has certified such fact 
to appropriate committees of Congress. 
(f) CAP ON FUND.—No funds may be appropriated 
which when added to the amounts previously appropriated 
but not yet obligated, would cause such amounts to exceed 
$50,000,000. 
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(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Funds 
appropriated pursuant to this section shall be available 
until expended. 
SEC. 12. SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME BENEFITS. 
Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 
1612(a)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(A) EXCEPTION
FOR
REFUGEES
AND 
ASYLEES.—With respect to the specified Fed-
eral programs described in paragraph (3), para-
graph (1) shall not apply to— 
‘‘(i) an alien admitted to the United 
States as a refugee under section 207 of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act 8 
U.S.C. 1157; 
‘‘(ii) an alien granted asylum under 
section 208 of such Act 8 U.S.C. 1158; 
‘‘(iii) an alien whose deportation is 
withheld under section 243(h) of such Act 
8 U.S.C. 1253 (as in effect immediately 
before the effective date of section 307 of 
division C of Public Law 104–208) or sec-
tion 241(b)(3) of such Act 8 U.S.C. 
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1231(b)(3) (as amended by section 305(a) 
of division C of Public Law 104–208); 
‘‘(iv) an alien who is granted status as 
a Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined 
in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education 
Assistance Act of 1980); or 
‘‘(v) an alien who is admitted to the 
United States as an Amerasian immigrant 
pursuant to section 584 of the Foreign Op-
erations, Export Financing, and Related 
Programs Appropriations Act, 1988 (as 
contained in section 101(e) of Public Law 
100–202 and amended by the 9th proviso 
under migration and refugee assistance in 
title II of the Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing, and Related Programs Appro-
priations Act, 1989, Public Law 100–461, 
as amended).’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(N) SSI BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN ALIENS 
AND VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING.—Beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, 
any qualified alien (as defined in section 
431(b)), victim of trafficking in persons (as de-
fined in section 107(b)(1)(C) of division A of 
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the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protec-
tion Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(C))), or 
alien 
granted 
status 
under 
section 
101(a)(15)(T)(ii) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(T)(ii)) ren-
dered ineligible for the specified Federal pro-
gram described in paragraph (3)(A) solely by 
reason of the termination of the 7-year period 
described in subparagraph (A) prior to the en-
actment of this subparagraph shall be eligible 
for benefits under such program without regard 
to subparagraph (A).’’. 
SEC. 13. MAKING SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS 
BENEFICIARIES AND UNACCOMPANIED CHIL-
DREN GRANTED ‘‘U’’ VISA PROTECTION ELIGI-
BLE FOR FOSTER CARE AND REFUGEE BENE-
FITS. 
(a) ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS AND SERVICES.— 
Section 107(b)(1)(A) of the Victims of Trafficking and Vi-
olence Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(A)) 
is amended by inserting ‘‘, an alien who has been granted 
special immigrant status under section 101(a)(27)(J) of 
the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1101(a)(27)(J)), a child who has been granted status 
under section 101(a)(15)(U) of the Immigration and Na-
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tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15(U)),’’ after ‘‘traf-
ficking in persons,’’. 
(b) STATE REIMBURSEMENT.—Subject to the avail-
ability of funds appropriated for this purpose, if State fos-
ter care funds are expended on behalf of a child who has 
been granted special immigrant status under section 
101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)), the Federal Government shall re-
imburse the State in which the child resides for such ex-
penditures by the State. 
Æ 
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