Bill Text: NY J00774 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 20, 2023, as World Refugee Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2023-04-25 - ADOPTED [J00774 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J00774-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 774

BY: Senator COMRIE

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        June 20, 2023, as World Refugee Day in the State  of
        New York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness  of  issues  that
affect the lives of citizens of New York State and the world; and

  WHEREAS,  According  to  the  United Nations, every minute 24 people
leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror; and

  WHEREAS, The Office of the  United  Nations  High  Commissioner  for
Refugees  (UNHCR)  was  established  in  December  of  1950  to lead and
coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve  refugee
problems worldwide; and

  WHEREAS, There were 26.4 million refugees of concern to UNHCR around
the world at the end of 2020; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition,  the  UNHCR  had determined that 1.4 million
refugees were in need of immediate resettlement at the end of 2021; and

  WHEREAS, Between October 2020, and September 2021, the United States
admitted 11,411 refugees, according to The U.S.  Bureau  of  Population,
Refugees, and Migration; and

  WHEREAS, New York consistently ranks among one of the top States for
accepting  refugees  as  per  Department of State, Bureau of Population,
Refugees and Migration data; and

  WHEREAS, The Office of Refugee Resettlement at the  U.S.  Department
of  Health  and  Human  Services  has released that International Rescue
Committee (IRC), Hebrew  Immigrant  Aid  Society  (HIAS),  Church  World
Service (CWS), Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC), Episcopal
Migration  Ministries  (EMM),  United  States Committee for Refugees and
Immigrants (USCRI), Lutheran Immigration and  Refugee  Services  (LIRS),
United  States  Conference  of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and World Relief
Corporation  (WR),  are  some  of  the  organizations  responsible   for
resettling   refugees  in  our  community,  along  with  numerous  other
community organizations and religious institutions that  have  resettled
more  than  3,366  refugees  in  New  York,  in  2022, from more than 62
countries  including  The  Democratic  Republic  of  the  Congo,  Syria,
Afghanistan, and Burma; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  important to also pay tribute to the dedication of
humanitarian workers both domestically and abroad who devote their lives
to ensuring that vulnerable people can find a home; and

  WHEREAS,  The  powerful  persistence   and   adaptability   refugees
demonstrate  settling  in a new place with a new language and customs, a
place that becomes their new home, is truly commendable; and

  WHEREAS, There continue to be individuals and families  in  need  of
refuge and the support of New York State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 20,  2023,  as  World
Refugee Day in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York; and Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.