I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5791 
To establish the position of Special Envoy for Refugees in the Department 
of State, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 6, 2020 
Mr. NEGUSE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judi-
ciary, 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 
A BILL 
To establish the position of Special Envoy for Refugees in 
the Department of State, 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 ‘‘Special Envoy for Ref-
ugees Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) In 2019, the world is in the midst of the 
worst global displacement crisis in history, with 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:55 Feb 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5791.IH
H5791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
more than 70,800,000 forcibly displaced persons, in-
cluding 25,900,000 refugees worldwide, over half of 
whom are children, according to estimates from the 
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 
(2) In 2018, less than 5 percent of global reset-
tlement needs were met despite there being 
1,400,000 refugees in need of third-country resettle-
ment. 
(3) The United States refugee admissions pro-
gram is a life-saving solution that— 
(A) is critical to global humanitarian ef-
forts; 
(B) strengthens global security; 
(C) leverages United States foreign policy 
interests, including diplomatic and strategic in-
terests of supporting allies who often host a sig-
nificant and disproportionate share of refugees 
per capita; 
(D) stabilizes sensitive regions impacted by 
forced migration by ensuring that the United 
States shares responsibility for global refugee 
protection; 
(E) leverages refugee resettlement in the 
United States to encourage other countries to 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:55 Feb 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5791.IH
H5791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
uphold the human rights of refugees, including 
by ensuring that refugees— 
(i) have the right to work, the right to 
an education, and freedom of movement; 
and 
(ii) are not returned to a place in 
which their life or freedom is at risk; 
(F) serves individuals and families in need 
of resettlement; 
(G) provides economic and cultural bene-
fits to cities, States, and the United States as 
a whole; and 
(H) aligns with the international obliga-
tions of the United States, including under— 
(i) the Convention Relating to the 
Status of Refugees, done at Geneva July 
28, 1951 (as made applicable by the Pro-
tocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, 
done at New York January 31, 1967 (19 
U.S.T. 6223)), of which the United States 
is a party; 
(ii) the Convention against Torture 
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading 
Treatment or Punishment, done at New 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:55 Feb 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5791.IH
H5791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
York December 10, 1984, of which the 
United States is a party; 
(iii) the Convention relating to the 
Status of Stateless Persons, done at New 
York September 28, 1954; and 
(iv) the Convention on the Reduction 
of Statelessness, done at New York August 
30, 1961. 
(4) The United States has historically been, 
and should continue to be, a global leader in— 
(A) responding to displacement crises 
around the world, including through the provi-
sion of robust humanitarian support; 
(B) promoting the safety, health, and well- 
being of refugees and displaced persons; 
(C) welcoming asylum seekers who seek 
safety and protecting other at-risk migrants, in-
cluding survivors of torture, victims of traf-
ficking, and stateless people; and 
(D) working alongside other countries to 
strengthen protection systems and support. 
(5) The United States has steadily reduced— 
(A) access to asylum protection through 
administrative 
policy 
and 
programmatic 
changes, including policies and operational deci-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:55 Feb 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5791.IH
H5791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
sions aimed at reducing or stopping the ability 
of asylum seekers to access the United States 
border; and 
(B) the resettlement of refugees, by way of 
two consecutive historically low annual refugee 
admissions goals after nearly 45 years during 
which the average annual United States refugee 
admissions goal was over 95,000 individuals. 
(6) Refugees are— 
(A) the most vetted travelers to enter the 
United States; and 
(B) subject to extensive screening checks, 
including in-person interviews, biometric data 
checks, and multiple interagency checks. 
(7) The people of the United States, and com-
munities across the United States, overwhelmingly 
support refugees and asylum seekers, including peo-
ple of faith, members of the Armed Forces, veterans, 
elected officials, and retired high-ranking officials. 
As a beacon of safe refuge and pluralistic society, 
the United States should commit itself to addressing 
the plight of refugees internationally. 
(8) For the sake of refugees, asylum seekers, 
other migrants, United States national diplomatic 
and strategic interests, and local communities that 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:55 Feb 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5791.IH
H5791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
benefit from the presence of refugees, asylees, and 
other migrants, it is crucial for a dedicated official 
within the United States Government to coordinate 
and promote United States initiatives to protect ref-
ugees and asylum seekers. 
SEC. 3. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR REFUGEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall appoint a 
Special Envoy for Refugees within the Bureau of Popu-
lation, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of 
State (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘‘Special 
Envoy’’) who shall report directly to the Secretary of State 
and shall have the rank of ambassador. The Special Envoy 
shall be an individual of distinction with recognized exper-
tise relating to migration, refugees, asylum-seekers, and 
internally displaced and stateless individuals. 
(b) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Special 
Envoy shall— 
(1) directly advise the Secretaries of State, 
Homeland Security, and Health and Human Serv-
ices regarding the United States position relating to 
migration, refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally 
displaced and stateless individuals; 
(2) represent the United States in diplomatic 
matters relevant to the global displacement, migra-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:55 Feb 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5791.IH
H5791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
tion, refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally dis-
placed and stateless individuals; 
(3) lead interagency coordination to oversee evi-
dence-based research related to the global refugee 
crisis and the United States refugee program, in-
cluding research on— 
(A) the most effective ways to form and 
implement policy to promote refugee resettle-
ment in the United States; 
(B) durable solutions for globally displaced 
individuals abroad; and 
(C) the economic and social impact of re-
settlement of refugees and asylum seekers to 
the United States; 
(4) ensure that information disseminated by 
Federal agencies and United States Government 
partners with regard to refugees, asylum-seekers, 
and internally displaced and stateless individuals is 
evidence based; 
(5) conduct regular consultation with non-
governmental and international organizations, in-
cluding the United Nation High Commissioner for 
Refugees, to promote best practices for resettlement 
and durable solutions for refugees, asylum-seekers, 
and internally displaced and stateless individuals; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:55 Feb 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5791.IH
H5791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(6) lead interagency coordination to assess and 
develop United States Government policies in re-
sponse to the impact of climate change on global dis-
placement, including the effects of climate change on 
the forcible movement of people, the creation of new 
refugees and other climate displaced people; and 
(7) lead interagency and international coordina-
tion to identify and promote the United States for-
eign policy responses to issues that lead to global 
displacement and the creation of new refugees, in-
cluding global threats to civil rights, women’s rights, 
religious freedom, and violent conflicts. 
(c) STAFF.—The Special Envoy is authorized to hire 
such personnel as may be necessary to carry out the duties 
and responsibilities of the Special Envoy, including, at a 
minimum, a chief of staff, a deputy chief of staff, and 
an advisor. 
(d) CONSULTATION.—The Special Envoy shall work 
with the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to 
ensure that appropriate consultation with Congress occurs 
in a timely and thorough manner consistent with section 
207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1157). 
(e) REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:55 Feb 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5791.IH
H5791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and an-
nually thereafter, the Special Envoy— 
(A) shall submit to the appropriate con-
gressional committees a report on activities un-
dertaken in the preceding 12 months under 
subsection (b); 
(B) shall brief the appropriate congres-
sional committees on trends leading to global 
displacement, and new refugees and asylum 
seekers; 
(C) should submit to the appropriate con-
gressional committees a report on the outcomes 
of the consultation with Congress undertaken in 
the preceding 12 months as described in sub-
section (d); and 
(D) shall submit to the appropriate con-
gressional committees an assessment of human 
and financial resources necessary to fulfill the 
purposes and duties of this Act. 
(2) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘ap-
propriate congressional committees’’ means— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:55 Feb 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5791.IH
H5791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(A) the Committees on Foreign Affairs 
and Judiciary of the House of Representatives; 
and 
(B) the Committees on Foreign Relations 
and the Judiciary of the Senate. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:55 Feb 08, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5791.IH
H5791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS