Senate Resolution No. 3009

BY: Senator PERALTA

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 20, 2017, as World Refugee Day in the State of
New York, in conjunction with the observance of the
United Nations World Refugee Day

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 1950 to lead and coordinate
international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems
worldwide; and

WHEREAS, The UNHCR has determined that 1.19 million refugees are in
need of immediate resettlement; and

WHEREAS, Between October 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017, the United
States admitted 39,098 refugees, according to the U.S. Department of
Temporary and Disability Assistance; and

WHEREAS, New York consistently ranks among the top 5 in the Nation
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), some of the organizations responsible for resettling
refugees in our community, along with numerous other community
organizations and religious institutions have resettled more than 5,028
refugees in New York since October 2015 from more than 40 countries
including Afghanistan, Burma, Iraq and Syria; 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, 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 Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 20, 2017, as World
Refugee Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of United Nations World Refugee Day; and be it further

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