,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #acce ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bb1 #bjba ,mr4 ,markey introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,global ,climate ,change ,resilience ,strategy1 to authorize the admission of climate-displaced persons1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,table of contents4 ,sec4 #b4 ,findings2 sense of ,congress4 ,sec4 #c4 ,definitions4 ,sec4 #d4 ,required data collection and reporting4 ,sec4 #e4 ,global climate change resilience strategy4 ,sec4 #f4 ,training of foreign service officers in climate change resilience4 ,sec4 #g4 ,guidance on the humanitarian impacts of climate change4 ,sec4 #h4 ,admission of climate-displaced persons4 ,sec4 #i4 ,authorization of appropriations4 #b4 ,findings2 sense of ,congress 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,according to the ,intergovernmental ,panel on ,climate ,change1 the ,earth's climate is now changing faster than at any point in history4 7#b7 ,the ,october #bjah report entitled ,special ,report on ,global ,warming of #a4e ,c by the ,intergovernmental ,panel on ,climate ,change and the ,november #bjah ,fourth ,national ,climate ,assessment report found that a changing climate is-- 7,a7 causing sea levels to rise2 7,b7 contributing to an increase in wildfires and temperature extremes in some parts of the world2 and 7,c7 contributing to an increase in heavy precipitation in certain locations4 7#c7 ,forced displacement and forced migration are increasing in the context of environmental changes and climate-induced disruptions1 including weather-related disasters1 drought1 famine1 and rising sea levels4 7#d7 ,a ,december #bjai ,oxfam ,international report found that climate-related events forced an estimated #bj1jjj1jjj people from their homes every year during the previous decade4 7#e7 ,the ,united ,nations ,human ,rights ,council has recognized that climate change poses an existential threat that has already negatively affected the fulfilment of human rights1 specifically noting that-- 7,a7 parties should1 when taking action to address climate change1 respect1 promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights2 and 7,b7 the adverse effects of climate change are felt most acutely by those segments of the population that are already in vulnerable situations owing to factors such as geography1 poverty1 gender1 age1 indigenous or minority status1 national or social origin1 birth1 or other status and disability4 7#f7 ,the ,office of the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,human ,rights has suggested that a person who cannot be reasonably expected to return to his or her country of origin-- 7,a7 should be considered a victim of forced displacement2 and 7,b7 should be granted at least a temporary stay in the country where they have found refuge4 7#g7 ,the ,intergovernmental ,panel on ,climate ,change affirms with high confidence that societal adaptations in the near term can help reduce the risks of climate change throughout the #bast century4 7#h7 ,in #bjac1 ,super ,typhoon ,haiyan made landfall in the ,philippines1 affecting nearly #ae1jjj1jjj people and displacing more than #d1jjj1jjj people4 7#i7 ,since #bjag1 violence in ,burma's ,rakhine ,state has forced more than #gdj1jjj ,rohingya refugees into ,bangladesh1 where they remain exposed to the country's vulnerability to the effects of extreme flooding and landslides worsened by climate change4 7#aj7 ,in #bjbj1 extreme rainfall and flooding in ,northeast ,india's ,assam ,state displaced more than #c1cjj1jjj people4 7#aa7 ,the small ,pacific island ,nation of ,kiribati is preparing for large swaths of the country to be uninhabitable and for its people to migrate with the skill to integrate into their new host nation4 7#ab7 ,more than #aej1jjj1jjj people around the world now live on land that may be below sea level or regular flood levels by the end of the century unless adaptation measures are taken4 7#ac7 ,the effects of climate change also exacerbate social1 economic1 and political tensions within and among nations4 7#ad7 ,a #bjbj ,,care report1 ,evicted by ,climate ,change3 ,confronting the ,gendered ,impacts of ,climate-,induced ,displacement1 notes that-- 7,a7 the climate crisis exacerbates gender inequality and makes it harder to achieve gender justice2 7,b7 more than half of the #da1jjj1jjj people internally displaced in #bjah were women2 7,c7 poor women and children are up to #ad times more likely to be killed than men by a climate-fueled disaster1 such as a hurricane1 typhoon1 cyclone1 or flood2 and 7,d7 women who are displaced by climate change related impacts often have less access to relief resources4 7#ae7 ,in #bjad1 the ,department of ,defense ,quadrennial ,defense ,review cited the effects of climate change as a threat multiplier that could lead to violence abroad4 7#af7 ,in #bjaf1 a memorandum from the ,national ,intelligence ,counsel entitled ,implications for ,u4,s4 ,national ,security of ,anticipated ,climate ,change highlighted how climate change could create or aggravate tensions between nations in already disputed regions1 such as the ,arctic4 7#ag7 ,the #bjbj ,ecological ,threat ,register published by the ,institute for ,economics and ,peace projects that climate-related threats will continue to cause significant displacement worldwide over the coming decades4 ,nineteen countries1 with a combined population of #b1ajj1jjj1jjj people1 are noted to be most at risk given population growth1 water stress1 food insecurity1 droughts1 floods1 cyclones and rising temperature and sea levels4 7#ah7 ,in ,february #bjba1 ,president ,biden signaled his intention to raise the ,united ,states refugee resettlement goal4 7#ai7 ,in ,january #bjba1 ,president ,biden issued ,executive ,order #adjjh on tackling the climate crisis domestically and abroad4 ,the order affirmed climate considerations essential to ,united ,states foreign and defense policy1 reaffirmed the role of the ,special ,envoy for ,climate ,john ,kerry1 created a national climate task force1 and set timelines to produce strategies and implementation plans for integrating climate considerations into foreign policy efforts4 7#bj7 ,previous presidential administrations have not systematically and specifically acted to address climate displacement or to provide appropriate durable solutions to those who are displaced4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,united ,states should-- 7#a7 reduce its domestic greenhouse gas emissions on a scale and rate proportionate to its historical responsibility and the urgency of the threat of climate change2 7#b7 welcome the shared responsibility of climate change adaptation1 global disaster risk reduction1 resiliency building1 and disaster response and recovery2 7#c7 assist in providing durable solutions for climate-displaced persons2 7#d7 aid other countries in their climate change mitigation efforts2 and 7#e7 work with the international community-- 7,a7 to establish a framework to share such responsibilities2 and 7,b7 to ensure that the human rights of climate-displaced persons are acknowledged1 respected1 protected1 and fulfilled4 #c4 ,definitions ,section #aja7;a7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by amending paragraph 7#h7 to read as follows3 7#h7 ,the term climate-displaced person means any person who1 for reasons of sudden or progressive change in the environment that adversely affects his or her life or living conditions-- 7,a7 is obliged to leave his or her habitual home1 either within his or her country of nationality or in another country2 7,b7 is in need of a durable resettlement solution2 and 7,c7 whose government cannot or will not provide such durable resettlement solution4 2 and 7#b7 by amending paragraph 7#cd7 to read as follows3 7#cd7 ,the term designated application center means any ,united ,states embassy or consulate1 or other facility as the ,secretary of ,state may delegate to accept applications for climate-displaced person status4 4 #d4 ,required data collection and reporting 7a7 ,data collection ,the ,president1 in coordination with the ,department of ,commerce1 the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 the ,department of ,state1 the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 the ,office of the ,director of ,national ,intelligence1 the ,department of ,defense1 the ,department of ,homeland ,security1 and other relevant agencies1 shall collect and maintain data on displacement caused by climate change1 including information from-- 7#a7 the ,international ,organization for ,migration2 7#b7 the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,refugees2 7#c7 ,,unicef2 and 7#d7 other international organizations that are collecting such data4 7b7 ,annual report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,president shall submit a report to the ,senate ,foreign ,relations and ,house ,foreign ,affairs ,committees that details the collection and analysis of the data described in subsection 7a74 ,the report required under this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form1 but may include a classified annex4 #e4 ,global climate change resilience strategy ,section #aag of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baeap7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 by inserting 7#a7 after 7b72 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 7,a7 ,the ,president is authorized to furnish assistance to programs and initiatives that-- 7i7 promote resilience among communities facing harmful impacts from climate change2 and 7ii7 reduce the vulnerability of persons affected by climate change4 7,b7 ,there shall be1 in the ,department of ,state1 a ,coordinator of ,climate ,change ,resilience1 who shall coordinate the assistance authorized under this paragraph4 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7d7 7#a7 ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development and the ,special ,presidential ,envoy for ,climate1 shall establish a comprehensive1 integrated1 #aj-year strategy1 which shall be referred to as the ,global ,climate ,change ,resilience ,strategy1 to mitigate the impacts of climate change on displacement and humanitarian emergencies4 7#b7 ,the ,global ,climate ,change ,resilience ,strategy shall-- 7,a7 focus on addressing slow-onset and rapid-onset effects of events caused by climate change2 7,b7 consider the effects of events caused by climate change2 7,c7 describe the key features of successful strategies to prevent such conditions2 7,d7 include specific objectives and multisectoral approaches to the effects of events caused by climate change2 7,e7 describe approaches that ensure national leadership1 as appropriate1 and substantively engage with civil society1 local partners1 and the affected communities1 including marginalized populations and underserved populations1 in the design1 implementation1 and monitoring of climate change programs to best safeguard the future of those subject to displacement2 7,f7 assign roles for relevant ,federal agencies to avoid duplication of efforts1 while ensuring that-- 7i7 the ,department of ,state is responsible for-- 7,i7 leading the ,global ,climate ,change ,resilience ,strategy2 7,,ii7 establishing ,united ,states foreign policy2 7,,iii7 advancing diplomatic and political efforts2 7,,iv7 guiding security assistance and related civilian security efforts to mitigate climate change threats2 and 7,v7 providing overseas humanitarian assistance to respond to international displacement caused by climate change and to coordinate the pursuit of protection and durable solutions for climate-displaced persons1 including resettlement into the ,united ,states2 7ii7 the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development is-- 7,i7 responsible for overseeing programs to prevent the effects of events caused by climate change2 and 7,,ii7 the lead implementing agency for providing overseas humanitarian assistance to respond to internal displacement and food insecurity caused by climate change1 and for development and related nonsecurity program policy related to building resilience and achieving recovery2 and 7iii7 other ,federal agencies support the activities of the ,department of ,state and the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 as appropriate1 with the concurrence of the ,secretary of ,state and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development2 7,g7 describe programs that agencies will undertake to achieve the stated objectives1 including descriptions of existing programs and funding by fiscal year and account2 7,h7 identify mechanisms to improve coordination between the ,united ,states1 foreign governments1 and international organizations1 including the ,world ,bank1 the ,united ,nations1 regional organizations1 and private sector organizations2 7,i7 address efforts to expand public-private partnerships and leverage private sector resources2 7,j7 describe the criteria1 metrics1 and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of programs and objectives in the ,global ,climate ,change ,resilience ,strategy2 and 7,k7 describe how the ,global ,climate ,change ,resilience ,strategy will ensure that programs are country-led and context-specific4 7#c7 ,not later than #bgj days after the date of the enactment of this subsection1 and annually thereafter1 the ,president shall submit a report to ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives1 based in part on the information collected pursuant to this section1 that details the ,global ,climate ,change ,resilience ,strategy4 ,the report shall be submitted in unclassified form1 but may include a classified annex1 if necessary4 7#d7 ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary of ,state and the ,coordinator of ,global ,climate ,change ,resilience shall brief the ,house ,foreign ,affairs ,committee and the ,senate ,foreign ,relations ,committee on administration progress towards the ,global ,climate ,change ,resilience ,strategy4 7#e7 7,a7 ,not later than #bgj days after the date of the enactment of this subsection1 and annually thereafter1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states1 in cooperation and consultation with the ,secretary of ,state1 shall produce a report evaluating the progress that the ,federal ,government has made toward incorporating climate change into department and agency policies1 including the resources that have been allocated for such purpose4 7,b7 ,the report required under subparagraph 7,a7 shall assess-- 7i7 the degree to which the ,department of ,state and the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development 7,,usaid7 are-- 7,i7 developing climate change risk assessments2 and 7,,ii7 providing guidance to missions on how to include climate change risks in their integrated country strategies2 7ii7 whether the ,department of ,state and ,,usaid have sufficient resources to fulfill the requirements described in paragraph 7#b72 and 7iii7 any areas in which the ,department of ,state and ,,usaid may lack sufficient resources to fulfill such requirements4 4 #f4 ,training of foreign service officers in climate change resilience ,section #gjh7;a77#a7 of the ,foreign ,service ,act of #aihj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #djbh7;a77#a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by striking and at the end2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,d71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,e7 for ,foreign ,service ,officers who will be assigned to a country from which climate-displaced persons 7as defined in section #aja7;a77#h7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act7 have been displaced1 instruction on climate displacement1 including the ,global ,climate ,change ,resilience ,strategy established under section #aag7;d7 of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baeap7d774 4 #g4 ,guidance on the humanitarian impacts of climate change ,the ,secretary of ,state shall provide guidance to each ,united ,states diplomatic mission1 in accordance with ,executive ,order #acfgg 7#gi ,fed4 ,reg4 #ehbbi71 addressing the humanitarian impacts associated with climate change4 #h4 ,admission of climate-displaced persons 7a7 ,admission of climate-,displaced persons 7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #d of title ,,ii of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abba et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #bdd;,a4 ,climate-displaced persons 7a7 ,admission goal 7#a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding section #bjg1 the number of climate-displaced persons who may be admitted under this section in any fiscal year 7beginning with fiscal year #bjba7 shall be not fewer than the greater of-- 7,a7 #ej1jjj2 or 7,b7 the number that the ,president determines1 before the beginning of the fiscal year and after appropriate consultation with ,congress1 is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest4 7#b7 ,effect of numerical adjustment ,if the ,president determines that the number of climate-displaced persons who may be admitted in a fiscal year based on humanitarian concerns or the national interest is greater than the number set forth in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 the ,president shall-- 7,a7 set the admissions level for climate-displaced persons at the same time as the ,president determines the number of refugees who may be admitted in such fiscal year under section #bjg2 and 7,b7 follow all of the procedures relating to refugee admissions under section #bjg1 including the requirement to engage in an appropriate consultation with ,congress4 7b7 ,admissibility2 applications 7#a7 ,in general 7,a7 ,admissibility ,subject to the numerical limitation under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 pursuant to such regulations as the ,secretary may prescribe1 may admit any climate-displaced person under this section who-- 7i7 is admissible2 7ii7 is not described in section #bjh7;b77#b72 and 7iii7 is not described in paragraph 7#b74 7,b7 ,applications ,any noncitizen described in subparagraph 7,a71 regardless of such noncitizen's immigration status1 may apply for admission as a climate-displaced person if the noncitizen-- 7i7 is physically present in the ,united ,states2 7ii7 arrives in the ,united ,states 7whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including a noncitizen who is brought to the ,united ,states after having been interdicted in international or ,united ,states waters72 or 7iii7 applies at a designated application center4 7#b7 ,limitations ,except as provided in paragraph 7#c71 a noncitizen may not apply for status as a climate-displaced person if-- 7,a7 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security determines that the noncitizen may be removed1 pursuant to a bilateral or multilateral agreement1 to a country 7other than the country of the noncitizen's nationality or1 in the case of a noncitizen having no nationality1 the country of the noncitizen's last habitual residence7 that is outside of the zone in which the sudden or progressive change in the environment obliged the noncitizen to leave his or her residence1 provided that such determination does not violate our ,nation's human rights obligations2 7,b7 the application is not filed within #a year after the date of the noncitizen's arrival in the ,united ,states2 or 7,c7 an earlier application by the noncitizen for climate-displaced person status has been denied4 7#c7 ,exceptions 7,a7 ,unaccompanied noncitizen children ,paragraph 7#b7 shall not apply to unaccompanied noncitizen children 7as defined in section #dfb7;g7 of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #bgi7;g7774 7,b7 ,changed circumstances ,subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,c7 of paragraph 7#b7 shall not apply if the noncitizen demonstrates1 to the satisfaction of the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security that-- 7i7 extraordinary circumstances prevented the noncitizen from filing an application within the period specified in paragraph 7#b77;,b72 or 7ii7 changed circumstances materially affect the applicant's eligibility for climate-displaced person status4 7,c7 ,referrals authorized ,the ,secretary of ,state may also accept applications submitted on behalf of eligible applicants for climate-displaced person status by qualified international agencies4 7#d7 ,contents ,applications submitted under this subsection shall contain such information as the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 determines to be necessary to determine whether the applicant is eligible for admission as a climate-displaced person4 7#e7 ,fees 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 an applicant for climate-displaced person status shall not be charged a fee4 7,b7 ,exception ,if a noncitizen has applied for1 and been denied1 climate-displaced person status on #b or more previous occasions1 the ,secretary may charge a reasonable fee for any subsequent applications1 which shall set at a level equal to the average cost of adjudicating such applications4 7c7 ,treatment of climate-,displaced persons 7#a7 ,in general ,a noncitizen who qualifies for climate-displaced person status under this section shall be eligible for resettlement assistance1 entitlement programs1 and other benefits available to refugees admitted under section #bjg4 7#b7 ,treatment of children and spouse 7,a7 ,in general ,a spouse or a child 7as defined in subparagraph 7,a71 7,b71 7,c71 7,d71 or 7,e7 of section #aja7;b77#a77 of a noncitizen who is granted climate-displaced person status under this section may1 if not otherwise eligible for such status1 be granted the same status as the climate-displaced person if accompanying1 or following to join1 such noncitizen4 7,b7 ,treatment of children ,an unmarried noncitizen who seeks to accompany1 or follow to join1 a parent granted climate-displaced person status under this section1 and who was younger than #ba years of age on the date on which such parent applied for such status1 shall continue to be classified as a child for purposes of this subsection and section #bji7;b77#c71 if the noncitizen attains #ba years of age while such application is pending4 7d7 ,grounds for ineligibility ,a noncitizen may not be admitted as a climate-displaced person under this section if the noncitizen is described in section #bjh7;b77#b7 7e7 ,defined term ,in this section1 the term noncitizen means any person who is not a citizen or national of the ,united ,states4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents for the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja note7 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #bdd the following3 ,sec4 #bdd;,a4 ,climate-displaced persons4 4 7b7 ,adjustment of status ,section #bji7;a77#a7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaei7;a77 is amended by inserting or #bdd;,a before the em dash immediately preceding subparagraph 7,a74 7c7 ,savings provision 7#a7 ,in general ,nothing in section #bdd;,a of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act1 as added by subsection 7a77#a71 may be construed to affect the ,united ,states commitment to the ,united ,states ,refugee ,admissions ,program4 7#b7 ,additional protections ,the protections described in such section #bdd;,a are in addition to the refugee admissions goal established by the ,presidential determination described in subsection 7a77#a77;,b7 of such section4 #i4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this ,act4