Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 3123 extends Liberias current temporary protected status designation. which is due to expire on September 30 of this year. for 1 year. As many of us know. Liberia was founded by former American slaves with the help of our government. Since 1989. however. the country has been ravaged by two brutal civil wars which have displaced hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed Liberias economy and infrastructure. In recognition of these intolerable conditions. the United States for the past 16 years has accorded special protection status to prevent approximately 3.600 Liberians residing in our Nation under temporary protected status from having to be returned to their homeland in the midst of those wars. Recently. the Department of Homeland Security has determined to terminate these temporary protections in light of the fact that Liberias civil wars have finally ended and in anticipation of the political stability that Ellen JohnsonSirleaf. its newly elected President. will bring. While there is no question that President JohnsonSirleaf has put Liberia on the road to recovery. that road will unfortunately be rather long.
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temporary protected status