The House Committee on International Relations today approved the Fiscal Year 2004 Foreign Operations Authorization Bill with an amendment offered by Vice Chairman Chris Smith that would enable the United States to provide humanitarian relief to refugees while maintaining stringent homeland security safeguards.

    For about 20 years, the United States typically resettled between 100,000 to 150,000 refugees annually. Despite the increase in conflict and instability throughout the world, the ceiling number was reduced to 70,000; and in FY 02 less than 30,000 refugees were admitted to the U.S.

    “Despite the tremendous need for refugee assistance, the United States has greatly reduced its commitment to refugee resettlement.  My amendment will restore this hope to millions of refugees -- people who have fled their homes to escape persecution, torture, and death threats -- while ensuring all candidates are properly screened to meet the qualification standards for real refugees,” Smith said.

    Smith’s amendment consists of three major components:
   

1. Calls upon the State Department to use well-respected Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to help identify and process refugees.
2. Expands the processing of refugees in greatest need of resettlement such as those that have been in refugee camps for long periods of time, children without parents or guardians, women who serve as head of their household, and people with close family relations living in the United States.
3. Increases funding authorizations to $927 million in FY 04 and $957 million in FY 05. This money will be used to process refugees and to also help those refugees still in camps.

    “I am pleased that my colleagues from both sides of the aisle joined together to support this much-needed humanitarian aid provision,” Smith said.  “The US must continue its role of helping the truly persecuted and those who are targeted because of their efforts to advance democracy in their home countries.”