US Congress House Bill 2798 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 27-0)
Status: Introduced on June 17 2015 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2015-07-01 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Immigration And Border Security Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Strengthening Refugee Resettlement Act Requires the Department of Homeland Security to work with the heads of other relevant federal agencies to conduct a review of refugee processing with the goal of streamlining processing, consistent with maintaining security. Requires the Department of State (Department) to establish overseas refugee English language and work orientation training programs prior to the departure for the United States of refugees who have been approved for U.S. admission. Permits: (1) refugees (and their spouses and children) to be admitted to the United States as lawful permanent residents, and (2) asylum seekers (and their spouses and children) to be granted lawful permanent residency. Requires the Department when setting the amount of reception and placement grants to: (1) adjust the grant amount to account for anticipated initial refugee resettlement needs, and (2) ensure that funding is provided to national resettlement agencies at the beginning of the fiscal year. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should appoint a White House Coordinator on Refugee Protection. Requires the Office of Refugee Resettlement to make grants to national resettlement agencies to operate a case management system to assist individuals access eligible services, benefits, and assistance provided by the Office, federal, state, or local agencies, and private or nonprofit organizations. Requires the Office, subject to available appropriations, to provide refugees with a minimum of 12 months' assistance and social services for employment, health, and living expenses. Authorizes the Office to award grants to community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and resettlement agencies for programs to assist newcomers integrate into U.S. civic life. Expands eligibility for, and participation in, the refugee matching grant program (federal-private refugee assistance). Establishes a Domestic Emergency Refugee Resettlement Fund to meet unanticipated refugee resettlement needs. Makes SSI (supplemental security income) benefits available to qualified aliens, U-visa aliens (victim of criminal activity), or certain T-visa aliens (victims of trafficking in persons) who were ineligible for such benefits because of their failure to acquire citizenship within seven years. Makes a child who has been granted special immigrant status as a victim of criminal activity (U-visa) eligible for specified refugee benefits.

Strengthening Refugee Resettlement Act

Rep. Keith Ellison [D-MN]	Rep. Gwen Moore [D-WI]	Rep. James McGovern [D-MA]	Rep. Henry Johnson [D-GA]
Rep. Jim McDermott [D-WA]	Rep. Mark Takano [D-CA]	Rep. Luis Gutierrez [D-IL]	Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee [D-TX]
Rep. Michael Honda [D-CA]	Sen. Peter Welch [D-VT]	Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]	Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]
Rep. Alcee Hastings [D-FL]	Rep. Eleanor Norton [D-DC]	Rep. David Cicilline [D-RI]	Rep. Al Green [D-TX]
Rep. John Conyers [D-MI]	Rep. Susan Davis [D-CA]	Rep. Judy Chu [D-CA]	Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D-IL]
Rep. Mark Pocan [D-WI]	Rep. Tony Cardenas [D-CA]	Rep. Andre Carson [D-IN]	Rep. Charles Rangel [D-NY]
Rep. Brian Higgins [D-NY]	Rep. Mark DeSaulnier [D-CA]	Rep. Frank Pallone [D-NJ]

Date	Chamber	Action
2015-07-01	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
2015-06-23	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
2015-06-17	House	Referred to House Ways and Means
2015-06-17	House	Referred to House Foreign Affairs
2015-06-17	House	Referred to House Judiciary
2015-06-17	House	Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2015-06-17	House	Introduced in House

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2798/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr2798/BILLS-114hr2798ih.pdf