S. 2783 — Introduced in Senate

II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2783 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 21, 2021Mr. Merkley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To provide resettlement benefits for certain nationals of Afghanistan, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Welcoming Evacuees Coming from Overseas to Mitigate Effects of Displacement Act of 2021 or the WELCOMED Act of 2021. 2. Resettlement benefits for Afghan entrants (a) Definition of Afghan entrant In this Act, the term Afghan entrant means a national of Afghanistan (or in the case of an alien having no nationality, a person who last habitually resided in Afghanistan) who is paroled into the United States pursuant to section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)) during the period beginning on July 1, 2021, and ending on July 1, 2025. (b) Resettlement support authorized Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an Afghan entrant shall be eligible for resettlement assistance (including services for unaccompanied refugee minors) and any other Federal public benefit (as defined in section 401(c) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611(c))) in the same manner as an alien admitted to the United States under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157). (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.