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.