Speech #1050073852

Mr. President. Senator ABRAHAM and I have introduced a 2year extension of the Refugee Act. The Refugee Act is the core of U.S. refugee policy. It sets the criteria under which persons can be designated as refugees. and provides funds for refugee resettlement. Last year. the United States admitted more than 75.000 refugees under the Refugee Acts criteria. In addition to determining whom is considered a refugee. the Refugee Act allows the Department of Health and Human Services. through the Office of Refugee Resettlement [ORR]. to provide services to refugees resettled in the United States. For example. ORR provides job training and employment assistance to new refugees to help them become economically selfsufficient. ORR helps States provide English language classes. preventive health services. and cash assistance to new refugees to help them get on their feet in their new country. Refugees often arrive in the United States terrified. jetlagged. and with few possessions. Most fled persecution in their home countries. and left their clothes and possessions behind. These programs make a refugees assimilation into the United States a little easier. In addition to providing assistance directly to refugees. the Refugee Act provides funds to the Public Health Service to provide overseas medical screening for United Statesbound refugees for the protection of public health against contagious diseases. ORR also provides targeted assistance to States and counties with large refugee populations. and runs matching grant programs for voluntary agencies that assist States in refugee resettlement. For example. The Boston Tech Center in Middlesex County. MA received $250.000 in discretionary targeted assistance to teach refugees shortterm skills training. basic English and math. The International Rescue Committee in Boston received funds under the Refugee Act to provide a refugee youth program for newly arrived Somali children. Mr. President. the Refugee Act is the heart of our refugee law and policy. If it is not reauthorized. the United States will send a signal worldwide that refugees are no longer welcome here. We cannot let that happen. I am grateful to my colleagues for supporting this bill.