Iraqi Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement, and Security Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-578
Sponsor: Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-23]
Introduced: 2009-01-15 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Egypt
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Immigration status and procedures
International organizations and cooperation
Iraq
Jordan
Lebanon
Middle East
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Syria
Turkey
United Nations
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: 
Iraqi Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement, and Security Act of 2009 - Expresses the sense of Congress concerning Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons.
 
Directs the Secretary of State, with respect to vulnerable populations in Iraq and with respect to countries containing a significant population of Iraqi refugees (including Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, and Egypt), to provide such countries or appropriate international organizations and nongovernmental organizations with specified humanitarian assistance.
 
Directs the Secretary to make every effort to ensure that the humanitarian needs of vulnerable populations in Iraq and Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries are met. 
 
Authorizes appropriations: (1) for such humanitarian assistance; and (2) to Jordan for humanitarian assistance to Iraqi refugees and to provide the necessary infrastructure to support both the needs of Iraqi refugees and the Jordanian people. Requires that related fund monitoring mechanisms be established.
 
Prohibits direct bilateral assistance to Syria.
 
Increases FY2009-FY2011 refugee admission limitations for the purpose of admitting Iraqi citizens or nationals who became refugees on or after March 19, 2003. Authorizes appropriations.
 
Directs the Secretary, by a specified date and subject to the availability of appropriations, to have increased by 100% the number of federal personnel in Iraq and in other appropriate countries who are conducting security reviews of Iraqi refugee applicants. Authorizes appropriations.
 
Directs the Secretary to work with the international community to provide: (1) financial assistance to vulnerable populations in Iraq and to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries; and (2) technical and financial assistance to international organizations in order to process refugees.
 
Defines &quot;vulnerable populations in Iraq.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Referred to House Judiciary
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Referred to House Foreign Affairs
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E97)
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Introduced in House