,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #egia ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #f1 #bjbj,mr4 ,neguse introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 and in addition to the ,committee on the ,judiciary1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to establish the position of ,special ,envoy for ,refugees in the ,department of ,state1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,special ,envoy for ,refugees ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,in #bjai1 the world is in the midst of the worst global displacement crisis in history1 with more than #gj1hjj1jjj forcibly displaced persons1 including #be1ijj1jjj refugees worldwide1 over half of whom are children1 according to estimates from the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,refugees4 7#b7 ,in #bjah1 less than #e percent of global resettlement needs were met despite there being #a1djj1jjj refugees in need of third-country resettlement4 7#c7 ,the ,united ,states refugee admissions program is a life-saving solution that-- 7,a7 is critical to global humanitarian efforts2 7,b7 strengthens global security2 7,c7 leverages ,united ,states foreign policy interests1 including diplomatic and strategic interests of supporting allies who often host a significant and disproportionate share of refugees per capita2 7,d7 stabilizes sensitive regions impacted by forced migration by ensuring that the ,united ,states shares responsibility for global refugee protection2 7,e7 leverages refugee resettlement in the ,united ,states to encourage other countries to uphold the human rights of refugees1 including by ensuring that refugees-- 7i7 have the right to work1 the right to an education1 and freedom of movement2 and 7ii7 are not returned to a place in which their life or freedom is at risk2 7,f7 serves individuals and families in need of resettlement2 7,g7 provides economic and cultural benefits to cities1 ,states1 and the ,united ,states as a whole2 and 7,h7 aligns with the international obligations of the ,united ,states1 including under-- 7i7 the ,convention ,relating to the ,status of ,refugees1 done at ,geneva ,july #bh1 #aiea 7as made applicable by the ,protocol ,relating to the ,status of ,refugees1 done at ,new ,york ,january #ca1 #aifg 7#ai ,u4,s4,t4 #fbbc771 of which the ,united ,states is a party2 7ii7 the ,convention against ,torture and ,other ,cruel1 ,inhuman or ,degrading ,treatment or ,punishment1 done at ,new ,york ,december #aj1 #aihd1 of which the ,united ,states is a party2 7iii7 the ,convention relating to the ,status of ,stateless ,persons1 done at ,new ,york ,september #bh1 #aied2 and 7iv7 the ,convention on the ,reduction of ,statelessness1 done at ,new ,york ,august #cj1 #aifa4 7#d7 ,the ,united ,states has historically been1 and should continue to be1 a global leader in-- 7,a7 responding to displacement crises around the world1 including through the provision of robust humanitarian support2 7,b7 promoting the safety1 health1 and well-being of refugees and displaced persons2 7,c7 welcoming asylum seekers who seek safety and protecting other at-risk migrants1 including survivors of torture1 victims of trafficking1 and stateless people2 and 7,d7 working alongside other countries to strengthen protection systems and support4 7#e7 ,the ,united ,states has steadily reduced-- 7,a7 access to asylum protection through administrative policy and programmatic changes1 including policies and operational decisions aimed at reducing or stopping the ability of asylum seekers to access the ,united ,states border2 and 7,b7 the resettlement of refugees1 by way of two consecutive historically low annual refugee admissions goals after nearly #de years during which the average annual ,united ,states refugee admissions goal was over #ie1jjj individuals4 7#f7 ,refugees are-- 7,a7 the most vetted travelers to enter the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 subject to extensive screening checks1 including in-person interviews1 biometric data checks1 and multiple interagency checks4 7#g7 ,the people of the ,united ,states1 and communities across the ,united ,states1 overwhelmingly support refugees and asylum seekers1 including people of faith1 members of the ,armed ,forces1 veterans1 elected officials1 and retired high-ranking officials4 ,as a beacon of safe refuge and pluralistic society1 the ,united ,states should commit itself to addressing the plight of refugees internationally4 7#h7 ,for the sake of refugees1 asylum seekers1 other migrants1 ,united ,states national diplomatic and strategic interests1 and local communities that benefit from the presence of refugees1 asylees1 and other migrants1 it is crucial for a dedicated official within the ,united ,states ,government to coordinate and promote ,united ,states initiatives to protect refugees and asylum seekers4 #c4 ,special ,envoy for ,refugees 7a7 ,in general ,the ,president shall appoint a ,special ,envoy for ,refugees within the ,bureau of ,population1 ,refugees1 and ,migration of the ,department of ,state 7hereafter in this section referred to as the ,special ,envoy7 who shall report directly to the ,secretary of ,state and shall have the rank of ambassador4 ,the ,special ,envoy shall be an individual of distinction with recognized expertise relating to migration1 refugees1 asylum-seekers1 and internally displaced and stateless individuals4 7b7 ,duties and responsibilities ,the ,special ,envoy shall-- 7#a7 directly advise the ,secretaries of ,state1 ,homeland ,security1 and ,health and ,human ,services regarding the ,united ,states position relating to migration1 refugees1 asylum-seekers1 and internally displaced and stateless individuals2 7#b7 represent the ,united ,states in diplomatic matters relevant to the global displacement1 migration1 refugees1 asylum-seekers1 and internally displaced and stateless individuals2 7#c7 lead interagency coordination to oversee evidence-based research related to the global refugee crisis and the ,united ,states refugee program1 including research on-- 7,a7 the most effective ways to form and implement policy to promote refugee resettlement in the ,united ,states2 7,b7 durable solutions for globally displaced individuals abroad2 and 7,c7 the economic and social impact of resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers to the ,united ,states2 7#d7 ensure that information disseminated by ,federal agencies and ,united ,states ,government partners with regard to refugees1 asylum-seekers1 and internally displaced and stateless individuals is evidence based2 7#e7 conduct regular consultation with nongovernmental and international organizations1 including the ,united ,nation ,high ,commissioner for ,refugees1 to promote best practices for resettlement and durable solutions for refugees1 asylum-seekers1 and internally displaced and stateless individuals2 7#f7 lead interagency coordination to assess and develop ,united ,states ,government policies in response to the impact of climate change on global displacement1 including the effects of climate change on the forcible movement of people1 the creation of new refugees and other climate displaced people2 and 7#g7 lead interagency and international coordination to identify and promote the ,united ,states foreign policy responses to issues that lead to global displacement and the creation of new refugees1 including global threats to civil rights1 women's rights1 religious freedom1 and violent conflicts4 7c7 ,staff ,the ,special ,envoy is authorized to hire such personnel as may be necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the ,special ,envoy1 including1 at a minimum1 a chief of staff1 a deputy chief of staff1 and an advisor4 7d7 ,consultation ,the ,special ,envoy shall work with the ,secretaries of ,state and ,homeland ,security to ensure that appropriate consultation with ,congress occurs in a timely and thorough manner consistent with section #bjg of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeg74 7e7 ,reports and briefings 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,special ,envoy-- 7,a7 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on activities undertaken in the preceding #ab months under subsection 7b72 7,b7 shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on trends leading to global displacement1 and new refugees and asylum seekers2 7,c7 should submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the outcomes of the consultation with ,congress undertaken in the preceding #ab months as described in subsection 7d72 and 7,d7 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an assessment of human and financial resources necessary to fulfill the purposes and duties of this ,act4 7#b7 ,appropriate congressional committees defined ,in this subsection1 the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committees on ,foreign ,affairs and ,judiciary of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,b7 the ,committees on ,foreign ,relations and the ,judiciary of the ,senate4