Reps. Lofgren, Neguse & Sen. Markey Reintroduce Legislation to Reestablish the United States' Commitment to Welcoming Refugees

Press Release

As the world faces the highest levels of displacement on record, U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) and Joe Neguse (CO-02) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) are reintroducing the bicameral Guaranteed Refugee Admission Ceiling Enhancement (GRACE) Act. This legislation would strengthen the Refugee Act of 1980 by preventing the President from setting a Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions at a level below 125,000. According to the UN Refugee Agency, 79.5 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes. Among them, nearly 26 million are refugees, and more than half are under the age of 18.

"Leaders on both sides of the aisle have long recognized that a robust refugee program advances our national security interests and is morally just," said Representative Zoe Lofgren, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. "Sadly, the Trump Administration gutted America's lifesaving program and betrayed our country's commitment to protect people fleeing persecution, including those who served alongside our troops. The GRACE Act strengthens existing U.S. law and reaffirms our country's longstanding tradition of welcoming refugees for years to come."

"We are in the midst of a historic refugee crisis -- we cannot close our borders, our shores, or our hearts to those seeking safety and a better life," said Senator Markey. "The Trump administration's decision to slash refugee admissions was a drastic departure from our longstanding commitment to vulnerable people around the world, and now under President Biden, we have the opportunity to recommit the United States as a beacon of hope to those fleeing violence and persecution. The GRACE Act will safeguard our refugee resettlement program while meeting the demands of the global refugee crisis."

In addition to preventing a President from setting annual refugee admissions below 125,000, the GRACE Act also strengthens the refugee program by:

Automatically setting the annual level of refugee admissions at 125,000 if the president fails to issue a determination by the statutory deadline of October 1;
Ensuring that each officer responsible for refugee admissions or resettlement treats the Presidential Determination as a goal;
Encouraging the President to consider the report of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) on global resettlement needs when setting the Presidential Determination and determining regional allocations; and
Mandating quarterly reports to Congress with specific oversight requirements.

Source