Madam President. I am offering today with my colleague on the Immigration Subcommittee. Senator SIMPSON. a modest amendment to ensure coordination between the various agencies of the executive branch in developing and implementing U.S. refugee policy. Section 137(a) of S. 1281 eliminates the Office of U.S. Coordinator for Refugee Affairs. The Coordinators office was established in the Refugee Act of 1980 to ensure coordination between the Department of State. the Department of Health and Human Services. and the Department of Justice in planning for refugee entry and resettlement in the United States. Although many fine people served in the Coordinator role since 1980. much of the Coordinators independent authority eroded over time. Therefore. it is perhaps appropriate that Senator PELLs bill eliminates that office. The need for coordination between Federal agencies on refugee program issues has not abated. however. States and localities continue to be concerned about refugee resettlement on their communities. highlighting the importance of a coordinated and wellarticulated resettlement policy among Federal agencies. The amendment thus does not change S. 1281s elimination of the U.S. Coordinators office. Instead. it provides that the Department of State shall coordinate with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General on the development of overall refugee resettlement policy. accomplishment of refugee policy objectives. and liaison between the Federal Government and States and localities. It further requires these three agencies to work together in designing an overall budget strategy for refugee program matters.
Keywords matched
Refugee refugee Immigration