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senate Bill S. 1615

Changing How States Receive Federal Funding for Refugee Resettlement

Argument in favor

Refugee resettlement programs need to be assessed to make sure they are effective before they are expected to handle an influx of refugees from Syria and Iraq.

Alis's Opinion
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10/13/2015
Given the chaos & danger that drives so many unwillingly from their homes, we need the law to fit the times we are now living in. We will have refugees coming to the US--nothing will change that as a reality. This should be passed so communities that welcome them are treated fairly. I lived in Arlington, VA, when large numbers of Vietnamese relocated in the county. They enriched the entire community with their industrious work ethic, their culture & their families. It would not have been so successful had the law not existed that applied to the actual needs of both Arlington County & its citizens.
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operaman's Opinion
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10/17/2015
Let's use the money to help the homeless, not in supporting immigrants who could care less about our Constitution and our way of life.
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Wendy's Opinion
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10/13/2015
Yes, we live in a new age and we need to update were the funds go. This country was founded by immigrants and we should take as many Syrians in as we can. There room for them and can't wait to meet them.
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Argument opposed

The U.S. shouldn't be resettling refugees in the first place. Government resources should go to fixing domestic problems before taking on the burdens of others.

John's Opinion
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10/13/2015
We should not be accepting Muslim refugees. Saudi Arabia and the other Muslim nations should be first in line to shoulder the burden.
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Ron's Opinion
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10/20/2015
Why are we accepting refugees when there are homeless veterans?
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Carol's Opinion
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10/13/2015
dON'T TAKE ANY MUSLIM REFUGEES INTO THIS COUNTRY.
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What is Senate Bill S. 1615?

This bill would call on the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to come up with a new formula for how grants and contracts are given to their programs. The formula would be based on the number of refugees being served, and the state they live in. 

This bill would also call for a study of the ORR's domestic refugee resettlement programs. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) would be responsible for studying how effective each of it's over 20 programs are. 

In addition, the ORR would have to:

  • Ensure that refugee assistance is given to qualifying secondary migrants. Secondary migrants move from their place of origin to another location temporarily, before settling elsewhere;

  • Report to Congress on state experiences with the arrivals and departures of secondary migrants;

  • Expand the Office’s data analysis, collection, and sharing activities to include data on mental and physical medical cases, housing needs, and refugee employment.

The Dept. of State and the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) would be required to give guidance on refugee resettlement to the appropriate national, state, and local entities.

Impact

Refugees, the Dept. of State, DHS, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, and the GAO.

Cost of Senate Bill S. 1615

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

More Information

In-Depth: Sponsoring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced this legislation to address funding mechanisms she views as disadvantaging her home state of Michigan. In a press release, she noted that when refugees move from one state to another, the federal funding given to states doesn’t always follow them, creating shortfalls in states with large numbers of refugees. Sen. Stabenow added that:

“Michigan has long been a compassionate state, providing support for families who flee from persecution and violence in their own countries. This legislation will make sure that the resources follow these vulnerable families who settle in Michigan to the agencies providing the critical services they need.”

This bill has two cosponsors in the Senate, including Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Sen. Angus King (I-ME).


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Flickr user mmmswan)

AKA

Domestic Refugee Resettlement Reform and Modernization Act of 2015

Official Title

A bill to reform and modernize domestic refugee resettlement programs, and for other purposes.

bill Progress

  • Not enacted
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The house has not voted
  • The senate has not voted
      senate Committees
      Committee on the Judiciary
    IntroducedJune 18th, 2015
    Alis's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    10/13/2015
    Given the chaos & danger that drives so many unwillingly from their homes, we need the law to fit the times we are now living in. We will have refugees coming to the US--nothing will change that as a reality. This should be passed so communities that welcome them are treated fairly. I lived in Arlington, VA, when large numbers of Vietnamese relocated in the county. They enriched the entire community with their industrious work ethic, their culture & their families. It would not have been so successful had the law not existed that applied to the actual needs of both Arlington County & its citizens.
    Like (11)
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    Share
    John's Opinion Against
    ···
    10/13/2015
    We should not be accepting Muslim refugees. Saudi Arabia and the other Muslim nations should be first in line to shoulder the burden.
    Like (14)
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    Share
    Carol's Opinion Against
    ···
    10/13/2015
    dON'T TAKE ANY MUSLIM REFUGEES INTO THIS COUNTRY.
    Like (9)
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    Ron's Opinion Against
    ···
    10/20/2015
    Why are we accepting refugees when there are homeless veterans?
    Like (9)
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    Wes's Opinion Against
    ···
    10/13/2015
    We need to settle refugees in their home countries after we kill off the tyrants and evil people producing refugees.
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    operaman's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    10/17/2015
    Let's use the money to help the homeless, not in supporting immigrants who could care less about our Constitution and our way of life.
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    Mrs. r.'s Opinion Against
    ···
    10/20/2015
    I am not in favor of resettling any muslim people groups in our country for every reason you've read. Let the other Arab nations handle this. Like it or not Muslim beliefs in Sharia Law make them unable to accept and live by our Constitutional Law.
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    Joseph's Opinion Against
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    10/19/2015
    Stop the program all together! These "refugees" are not being vetted an the fact that their neighboring countries, from where these people are coming from, won't accept them should tell you something!
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    Wendy's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    10/13/2015
    Yes, we live in a new age and we need to update were the funds go. This country was founded by immigrants and we should take as many Syrians in as we can. There room for them and can't wait to meet them.
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    Dustin's Opinion Against
    ···
    01/01/2017
    We don't need any more refugees here we need solid boarder control then once that is done ship all illegals out. Once that's done the job market will start being competitive again instead of going after cheap labor. Once we have our holes fixed then and only then should be be talking about a refugee program.
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    James's Opinion Against
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    10/17/2015
    No! We should not be importing Muslims from any country. Their culture is contrary to ours and their religion does not permit them to acknowledge our government. Syrian Christians have been turned away, therefore all Syrians should be rejected.
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    Donna's Opinion Against
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    10/24/2015
    No refugees we are broke stop spending money we don't have
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    Sabra18's Opinion Against
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    10/21/2015
    NO Muslim refugees in the USA
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    AngryInfidel's Opinion Against
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    07/24/2016
    How about we stop accepting refugees altogether? We have hungry and hurting American citizens that need help first. The fact that is a ORR at all is disturbing.
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    Mark's Opinion Against
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    02/16/2016
    Make them go back. If they don't like ISIS or whatever the problem is they can fix instead of being cowards and running away
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    SherryTX's Opinion Against
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    10/13/2015
    I don't think we need a bill to get this done. The existing program needs to be accountable for these people AND keep track of them. If we are doing more than helping get them settled and teaching them English that needs to stop too.
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    ark4162's Opinion Against
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    10/14/2015
    DO NOT LET ANY MORE MIGRANTS IN! The National Guard in every state needs to be called out to shut down ALL the borders. We should not let one single person in here from ANYWHERE until the 95 million AMERICANS who are out of the work force are employed. Then we should ONLY take in migrants who have something to offer, a job waiting for them. NO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OF ANY KIND TO ANYONE THATS NOT AN AMERIA
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    J's Opinion In Favor
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    10/13/2015
    Sanctuary Cities and Martha's Vineyard should recieve ALL single male refugees...
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    Mitch1949's Opinion Against
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    10/20/2015
    No more refugees allowed in the USA.
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    Mart's Opinion Against
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    10/13/2015
    That's an individual state's decision. Where are these refugees going to stay? Someone privately has to let them stay on their property; if no sponsor, no refugee. Stop being "moral" on others' dimes. Everyone who wants to let in a refugee needs to pay for it and/or support one.
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