Contact: Jana Mason/Berta Romero
202-822-0166 ext. 18/202-541-5402

Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) - the nation’s leading coalition of refugee
resettlement, human rights, and humanitarian organizations - commends
the White House for making refugee assistance a priority in the
President’s fiscal year 2007 (FY07) budget proposal and urges Congress
to build on the President’s budget submission by providing additional
urgently needed resources to assist the world’s most vulnerable
populations.

The President’s proposed increase for the Department of State’s
Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) account comes as humanitarian
assistance and protection needs around the world are increasing and
when the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is being
called upon to strengthen its protection mandate. It also comes,
unfortunately, in the wake of significant and debilitating cuts in the
MRA account enacted by Congress for the current fiscal year. The
President’s request would increase resources for U.S. refugee
resettlement but would decrease assistance to refugees overseas. We
strongly urge Congress to restore the cuts made in fiscal year 2006,
and to improve upon the President’s fiscal year 2007 budget request by
appropriating $1.2 billion for the MRA account in fiscal year 2007.

The President’s budget submission also proposes a slight increase in
funding for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of
Refugee Resettlement (ORR), requesting $651 million for ORR in fiscal
year 2007. While we appreciate the President’s request for additional
funding for ORR, it notes that this important agency’s needs far
outstrip the request. We urge Congress to appropriate a minimum of $798
million for ORR in fiscal year 2007.

We commend the President's budget for recognizing the need to extend
eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for elderly
and disabled refugees. Under current law, refugees who are unable to
naturalize within seven years of arrival in the United States lose
access to this life-sustaining cash assistance program causing severe
hardship for the most vulnerable.

Additional funds will be needed above the President’s request for both
the MRA and ORR accounts if the United States is to maintain its
historic leadership in international refugee protection. Richard
Parkins, Chair of the Refugee Council USA stated, “the world’s refugee
crisis persists, with nearly 11 million refugees - 80 percent of whom
are women and children - in need of durable solutions, and often living
without sufficient food, shelter, medical care and other vital
assistance. We pledge to work with the Administration and Congress in
the coming months to ensure that additional funds are made available to
offer protection, assistance, and a new life of freedom to refugees,
both overseas and in the U.S.”

The Refugee Council USA is pleased that the Administration has
bolstered its commitment to refugee protection, assistance, and
resettlement by proposing increased funding for fiscal year 2007. We
urge Congress to provide additional resources for these vital programs.