Senators Introduce Bill to Create White House Coordinator for Iraqi Refugees

June 20, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Edward M. Kennedy today introduced a bill to establish a senior position at the White House to coordinate, develop and implement strategies to more effectively address the plight of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons. Since the 2003 invasion, more than four million Iraqis have been displaced from their home or have become refugees. Senator Kennedy is Chairman of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Refugees.

The bipartisan legislation is sponsored by Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and Gordon Smith (R-OR), and was introduced on behalf of the Senator by Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid. U.S. Representative Howard Berman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, has introduced companion legislation.

“Today, on World Refugee Day, Senator Kennedy salutes the courage of refugees across the globe. We acknowledge America’s special obligation to assist the more than four million Iraqis who have become refugees or who have been displaced in their own country as a result of the war. It is clear that Congress and the Administration have a responsibility to deal more effectively with this massive humanitarian crisis. Senator Kennedy strongly believes that the most appropriate step at this time would be the appointment a senior White House official to coordinate our overall policy on Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons. It’s long past time for America to reaffirm our responsibility to end the refugee crisis caused by the Iraq war,” said Anthony Coley, spokesman for Senator Kennedy.

“As many as five million Iraqis have been displaced, the vast majority since the war began in 2003. American leadership is critical in providing the humanitarian assistance these people desperately need, especially since much of the international community considers this crisis the result of our intervention in Iraq,” said Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) “Because this leadership has been lacking, we are seeking an Iraqi refugee coordinator, reporting directly to the President, to manage the American response to the crisis and work with the international community towards long-term solutions. This is not just the honorable thing to do – we owe it to our Iraqi friends many of whom have risked their lives to help us.”

“Millions of families with children and elderly relatives have been displaced by the Iraq war. We must make a concentrated effort to find a peaceful and safe environment for these unintended victims. America has a long and proud tradition of opening our doors as a safe haven to refugees during times of crisis, and this new position will be in keeping with this tradition of compassion,” said Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR).

Summary of Kennedy-Biden-Hagel-Smith legislation to create a White House Coordinator for

Iraqi Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

This bipartisan legislation would establish a White House Coordinator (with the rank of Ambassador-at-Large) for Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). The Coordinator would:

(1) develop and implement U.S. policies and strategies to address the protection, resettlement, and assistance needs of Iraqi refugees and IDPs, and foster long-term solutions for improving the lives of Iraqi citizens who have been displaced;

(2) coordinate all Federal Government functions to ensure that a cohesive, comprehensive policy is implemented to address the resettlement and humanitarian needs of Iraqi refugees and IDPs;

(3) monitor the development and implementation of assistance strategies to countries in the Middle East hosting Iraqi refugees;

(4) ensure that the President’s budget requests to Congress are sufficient to meet the needs of Iraqis and IDPs and seek to fund at least 50 percent of all United Nations and other international organizations’ activities on the issues;

(5) serve as principal liaison with the Government of Iraq, the international community, the NGO humanitarian community, and organizations assisting Iraqi refugees and IDPs, in order to solicit and direct bilateral and multilateral contributions to address the humanitarian needs of Iraqi refugees in Syria, Jordan, and other nations in the Middle East and IDPs in Iraq;

(6) ensure that the United States Government will encourage the return of refugees to Iraq only when conditions permit safe, sustainable returns on a voluntary basis; and

(7) report on the implementation strategy to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Senate and House Judiciary Committees; the report will include specific financial commitments by countries in the region, the Arab League, and other major donors in the international community for Iraqi refugees and IDPs, and will address challenges to securing additional funding commitments.

Source: Senator Edward M. Kennedy

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