,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bfee ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #a1 #bjbe,mr4 ,murphy 7for himself and ,mr4 ,blumenthal7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to establish a community-based refugee reception program to provide initial refugee resettlement services1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,community-based ,refugee ,reception ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 community-based refugee reception is not a replacement for resettlement services provided through experienced providers but serves as an effective complement to existing resettlement pathways by increasing the capacity of local communities to resettle refugees in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 in addition to supporting self-sufficiency of refugees1 participation in community-based reception encourages ,united ,states citizens to meaningfully engage with their neighbors and local institutions while working toward a common goal2 7#c7 the ,department of ,state should utilize all available tools to expand avenues for ,united ,states citizens to participate in refugee resettlement and capitalize on widespread interest in community-based reception models2 7#d7 the ,united ,states ,refugee ,admissions ,program is a critical demonstration of efforts by the ,united ,states to extend hope1 strengthen global security1 and relieve suffering through refugee resettlement2 7#e7 although less than #a percent of global refugees will ever be resettled in a third country1 refugees resettled in the ,united ,states between #bjje and #bjai contributed a staggering #abc1hjj1jjj1jjj in net benefit to the economy according to studies conducted by the ,federal ,government2 7#f7 the world is currently faced with the greatest displacement and refugee crisis in history as record numbers of people have been forced to flee violence and persecution1 including #cf1hjj1jjj refugees1 and the ,united ,states must set the bar for a global response2 7#g7 when the ,united ,states invests in refugee and humanitarian protections1 it stabilizes regional security and encourages other countries to expand access to resettlement and other pathways to protection2 and 7#h7 processing and admission of refugees through the ,united ,states ,refugee ,admissions ,program must immediately resume for all nationalities under consideration for resettlement in accordance with ,federal law and international obligations4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,state4 7#b7 ,reception and placement services ,the term reception and placement services means the initial reception and placement program managed by the ,department of ,state that provides initial resettlement assistance to refugees arriving in the ,united ,states1 such as-- 7,a7 the provision of housing1 furnishings1 clothing1 and food2 7,b7 assistance with access to medical1 employment1 educational1 and social services2 and 7,c7 conducting cultural and social orientation for recently arriving refugees4 7#c7 ,united ,states ,refugee ,admissions ,program ,the term ,united ,states ,refugee ,admissions ,program means the program to resettle refugees in the ,united ,states pursuant to the authorities provided in sections #aja7;a77#db71 #bjg1 and #dab of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#db71 #aaeg1 and #aebb74 #d4 ,eligibility as refugees of special humanitarian concern 7a7 ,in general ,for the purpose of admission as a refugee under section #bjg of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeg71 refugees of special humanitarian concern eligible for processing under the ,united ,states ,refugee ,admissions ,program shall include aliens referred by eligible community sponsorship groups subject to the requirements of section #dae of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act1 as added by section #e4 7b7 ,processing ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a procedure for the ,united ,states ,refugee ,admissions ,program to accept and process referrals from eligible community sponsorship groups4 7c7 ,applicability of other requirements ,aliens referred for processing under this section shall satisfy the requirements of section #bjg of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeg7 to qualify for admission to the ,united ,states4 7d7 ,applicability of numerical limitations ,refugees admitted under this section shall not be subject to the numerical limitations described in sections #bjb1 #bjc1 #bjd1 and #bjg of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeb1 #aaec1 #aaed1 #aaeg74 7e7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section may be construed-- 7#a7 to authorize the ,secretary to replace or reduce federally funded reception and placement services for aliens2 or 7#b7 to restrict the authority of the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security to admit aliens to the ,united ,states under any other ,act4 #e4 ,community-based ,refugee ,reception ,program ,chapter #b of title ,,iv of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #dae4 ,community-based ,refugee ,reception ,program 7a7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security and ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 shall establish a program within the ,united ,states ,refugee ,admission ,program1 to be known as the ,community-based ,refugee ,reception ,program 7referred to in this section as the ,program71 which shall use community sponsorship1 private sponsorship1 and partnerships between resettlement agencies and community groups to provide refugees with initial resettlement services1 including reception and placement with sponsors1 of refugees in the ,united ,states for a period of at least #ij days4 7#b7 ,procedure ,the ,secretary shall administer a procedure for accepting and approving applications for community sponsorship groups to participate in the ,program1 subject to requirements described in subsection 7c74 7b7 ,eligibility 7#a7 ,in general ,a refugee admitted to the ,united ,states is eligible to participate in the ,program if1 pursuant to processes and procedures established by the ,secretary-- 7,a7 such individual has been referred to the program to resettle refugees in the ,united ,states pursuant to the authorities provided in sections #aja7;a77#db71 #bjg1 and #dab by a community sponsorship group that intends to provide reception and placement services to the refugee and any immediate relative or beneficiary of the refugee2 and 7,b7 the ,secretary determines such placement is in the interest of the refugee to facilitate self-sufficiency after considering the specific needs of the refugee and any immediate relative or beneficiary of the refugee4 7#b7 ,exception 7,a7 ,in general ,a refugee referred to the program to resettle refugees in the ,united ,states pursuant to the authorities provided in sections #aja7;a77#db71 #bjg1 and #dab by an entity other than a community sponsorship group may be placed with a community sponsorship group pursuant to section #dae7;c77#b71 if the ,secretary determines such placement is in the interest of the refugee to facilitate self-sufficiency in the ,united ,states4 7,b7 ,considerations ,in determining eligibility under this paragraph1 the ,secretary shall consider the specific needs of the refugee1 or of the immediate relatives or beneficiaries of such refugee1 including the availability of accommodations for persons with disabilities4 7c7 ,community sponsorship groups 7#a7 ,eligibility ,community sponsorship groups that apply to participate in the ,program may be eligible if the ,secretary determines that the group has-- 7,a7 not less than #c ,united ,states citizens or lawful permanent residents who live within the area where the refugee and the beneficiaries of such refugee1 if applicable1 intend to be resettled2 7,b7 raised sufficient funds to cover associated expenses for the period of initial sponsorship for each sponsored refugee1 which shall be an amount determined by the ,secretary of ,state2 7,c7 completed all required pre-arrival training as determined by the ,secretary2 and 7,d7 provided all required biographic information of each sponsored refugee or refugees of special humanitarian concern for processing to the ,united ,states ,refugee ,admission ,program according to the procedures set forth by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,exception ,paragraph 7#a77;,c7 shall not apply with respect to community sponsorship groups that have provided consent to provide for initial resettlement for any refugee1 and the immediate relatives or beneficiaries of such refugee1 determined to be eligible for admission under section #bjg and subject to the parameters provided by the community sponsorship group4 7#c7 ,responsibilities 7,a7 ,in general ,community sponsorship groups shall be responsible for providing initial reception and placement services similar to services provided by domestic resettlement agencies and local affiliates for a refugee and the immediate relatives or beneficiaries of such refugee for not less than #ij days after the admission of such refugee1 in lieu of services typically provided by domestic resettlement agencies and local affiliates4 7,b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit refugees from accessing public benefits or services other than reception and placement services4 7d7 ,public-,private ,partnership 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may make grants to1 and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with1 one or more organizations to meet costs associated with training and other services rendered to community sponsorship groups4 ,funds under this paragraph shall be provided in coordination with the provision of other assistance in this chapter and not in lieu of payments for any other service4 7#b7 ,organizations ,the ,secretary shall ensure that recipients of grants awarded pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 sufficiently reflect geographic diversity and are inclusive of organizations with demonstrated experience in employing community sponsorship models for refugee reception1 veteran service organizations1 faith-based groups1 and ,private ,sponsor ,organizations4 7#c7 ,duties ,organizations participating in the cooperative agreement shall be responsible for-- 7,a7 informing implementation of the ,program2 and 7,b7 assisting the ,secretary with developing-- 7i7 mandatory training for all community sponsorship groups to be completed prior to application to the program1 which shall include information on-- 7,i7 all responsibilities of the community sponsorship group throughout the #ij-;day initial resettlement period and any additional duties or expectations beyond such period2 7,,ii7 demonstrated best practices for assisting refugees to attain self-sufficiency2 7,,iii7 the legal rights and protections of refugees2 7,,iv7 the general eligibility of refugees to access public benefits1 including cash assistance1 job training1 language training1 and other support authorized under this chapter2 and 7,v7 any other requirements that the ,secretary determines is necessary to facilitate resettlement of refugees in the ,united ,states2 7ii7 policies that provide for continuity of support to refugees in the event a community sponsorship group is unable to fulfill its responsibilities for the entirety of the #ij-;day initial resettlement period1 including procedures for providing reimbursement to resettlement agencies for services provided as a result of any disruption in service2 7iii7 policies to prohibit waste1 fraud1 and abuse by community sponsorship groups2 and 7iv7 a mechanism for refugees to independently report to the ,secretary-- 7,i7 any criminal or negligent activity by a community sponsorship group2 or 7,,ii7 any behavior by a community sponsorship group that otherwise adversely affects the ability of the refugee to establish independence in the ,united ,states4 7e7 ,communication with ,state and local governments ,not later than #fj days after ,september #bj1 #bjbf1 and not later than #fj days after the end of each fiscal year thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to representatives of ,state and local government1 including ,state and local health agencies where community sponsorship groups are active1 a report on current estimates of the total number of-- 7#a7 refugees intended to be resettled through the ,program within the respective ,state or local jurisdiction in the fiscal year following the fiscal year for which the report is being prepared2 7#b7 community sponsorship applications received from their respective jurisdiction in the preceding fiscal year2 and 7#c7 community sponsorship groups approved to participate in the ,program pending the arrival of a refugee4 7f7 ,eligibility for assistance ,nothing in this section shall be interpreted to limit the access of a refugee who received initial reception and placement services from the ,program to any assistance provided by the ,office to aliens authorized under section #dab or any other provision of law4 7g7 ,regulations ,the ,secretary may issue such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section4 7h7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,reception and placement services ,the term reception and placement services means the initial reception and placement program managed by the ,department of ,state that provides initial resettlement assistance to refugees arriving in the ,united ,states1 such as-- 7,a7 the provision of housing1 furnishings1 clothing1 and food2 7,b7 assistance with access to medical1 employment1 educational1 and social services2 and 7,c7 conducting cultural and social orientation for recently arriving refugees4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,state4 7i7 ,appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year #bjbf and each fiscal year thereafter such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section4 4