•HRES 1205 IH 
Whereas Syria plays host to an estimated 1.5 million Iraqi 
refugees, with roughly half a million more located in Jor-
dan; 
Whereas several other countries in the region have allowed 
Iraqi refugees to temporarily find shelter and Sweden has 
generously offered permanent homes to 40,000 Iraqi ref-
ugees since 2003; 
Whereas the United States has a moral responsibility to as-
sist those affected by the violence pervasive in Iraq since 
the United States invasion and should generously support 
the efforts of international and nongovernmental organi-
zations to ease the human suffering of the displaced; 
Whereas the Government of Iraq has both the obligation to 
aid its citizens in need and the financial resources with 
which to do so; 
Whereas the Government of Iraq’s 2007 budget dedicated 
only $14 million to the newly created Ministry of Dis-
placement and Immigration, and that amount was raised 
to $18 million in 2008; 
Whereas Iraq also offered a mere $25 million in 2007 to 
neighboring countries to offset a small part of the burden 
they have assumed by hosting such large numbers of 
Iraqis; 
Whereas the Iraqi Government forecasted $38 billion in oil 
revenues during 2008 but with oil prices skyrocketing 
from $57 per barrel in early 2007 to over $110 on the 
global market today, revenues have increased at an equal-
ly dramatic rate; 
Whereas the Iraqi Government could generate $70 billion in 
revenues in 2008, leading to potentially $32 billion in ad-
ditional oil revenues and a substantial budget surplus; 
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•HRES 1205 IH 
Whereas in June 2008, the Iraqi Parliament will convene a 
special session in order to consider the Iraqi Govern-
ment’s proposal on how to spend this unallocated surplus; 
Whereas dedicating funds at this session to meet the needs 
of refugees and IDPs could make an immeasurable dif-
ference in alleviating the suffering among this desperate 
community, many of whom lack adequate shelter, food, 
and access to clean water; 
Whereas providing funds to the UNHCR and other inter-
national organizations would also ease the significant 
burden placed on neighboring countries by such a large 
influx of people; 
Whereas Jordan has struggled to provide even the most basic 
services to Iraqi refugees now living in that country and 
increased assistance, along with a resumption in sub-
sidized oil exports to Jordan, would better enable the 
Jordanian Government to care for the Iraqi refugees liv-
ing there; 
Whereas aiding refugees and IDPs will also serve to better 
stabilize the region, as critically impoverished displaced 
communities both inside Iraq and in neighboring coun-
tries represent a significant potential security threat; 
Whereas recent reports highlight the danger in both Shiite 
and Sunni militias providing humanitarian aid to IDPs, 
thereby increasing their base of support; and 
Whereas greater aid to refugees would demonstrate to the 
world that the Iraqi Government is committed to repa-
triating those who fled the violence and promoting rec-
onciliation among all Iraqi ethnic and religious commu-
nities and would also have a positive economic effect in 
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•HRES 1205 IH 
reversing the exodus of educated Iraqis, the very people 
essential for Iraqi reconstruction: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) calls on the Governments of the United 
States and Iraq to work together in easing the suf-
fering of the refugees and internally displaced per-
sons; 
(2) suggests that the Iraqi Government signifi-
cantly augment its contribution to efforts on behalf 
of this displaced population; 
(3) requests that Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki 
propose in his supplemental budgetary request to the 
Iraqi Parliament in June 2008 that $1 billion be 
dedicated to meeting the needs of this community; 
and 
(4) requests that the Iraqi Parliament accept 
this budgetary request. 
Æ 
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