119-s2655

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2655 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2655

 To establish a community-based refugee reception program to provide 
 initial refugee resettlement services, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 August 1, 2025

 Mr. Murphy (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the 
 Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To establish a community-based refugee reception program to provide 
 initial refugee resettlement services, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Community-based Refugee Reception 
Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

 It is the sense of Congress that--

    (1) community-based refugee reception is not a replacement 
 for resettlement services provided through experienced 
 providers but serves as an effective complement to existing 
 resettlement pathways by increasing the capacity of local 
 communities to resettle refugees in the United States;

    (2) in addition to supporting self-sufficiency of refugees, 
 participation in community-based reception encourages United 
 States citizens to meaningfully engage with their neighbors and 
 local institutions while working toward a common goal;

    (3) the Department of State should utilize all available 
 tools to expand avenues for United States citizens to 
 participate in refugee resettlement and capitalize on 
 widespread interest in community-based reception models;

    (4) the United States Refugee Admissions Program is a 
 critical demonstration of efforts by the United States to 
 extend hope, strengthen global security, and relieve suffering 
 through refugee resettlement;

    (5) although less than 1 percent of global refugees will 
 ever be resettled in a third country, refugees resettled in the 
 United States between 2005 and 2019 contributed a staggering 
 $123,800,000,000 in net benefit to the economy according to 
 studies conducted by the Federal Government;

    (6) the world is currently faced with the greatest 
 displacement and refugee crisis in history as record numbers of 
 people have been forced to flee violence and persecution, 
 including 36,800,000 refugees, and the United States must set 
 the bar for a global response;

    (7) when the United States invests in refugee and 
 humanitarian protections, it stabilizes regional security and 
 encourages other countries to expand access to resettlement and 
 other pathways to protection; and

    (8) processing and admission of refugees through the United 
 States Refugee Admissions Program must immediately resume for 
 all nationalities under consideration for resettlement in 
 accordance with Federal law and international obligations.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of State.

    (2) Reception and placement services.--The term ``reception 
 and placement services'' means the initial reception and 
 placement program managed by the Department of State that 
 provides initial resettlement assistance to refugees arriving 
 in the United States, such as--
        (A) the provision of housing, furnishings, 
 clothing, and food;
        (B) assistance with access to medical, employment, 
 educational, and social services; and
            (C) conducting cultural and social orientation for 
 recently arriving refugees.

    (3) United states refugee admissions program.--The term 
 ``United States Refugee Admissions Program'' means the program 
 to resettle refugees in the United States pursuant to the 
 authorities provided in sections 101

    (a)

    (42) , 207, and 412 of 
 the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101

    (a)

    (42) , 
 1157, and 1522).

SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY AS REFUGEES OF SPECIAL HUMANITARIAN CONCERN.

    (a) In General.--For the purpose of admission as a refugee under 

section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157), 
refugees of special humanitarian concern eligible for processing under 
the United States Refugee Admissions Program shall include aliens 
referred by eligible community sponsorship groups subject to the 
requirements of 

section 415 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as 
added by 

section 5.

    (b) Processing.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a procedure for 
the United States Refugee Admissions Program to accept and process 
referrals from eligible community sponsorship groups.
            (c) Applicability of Other Requirements.--Aliens referred for 
processing under this section shall satisfy the requirements of 

section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157) to qualify 
for admission to the United States.
            (d) Applicability of Numerical Limitations.--Refugees admitted 
under this section shall not be subject to the numerical limitations 
described in sections 202, 203, 204, and 207 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1152, 1153, 1154, 1157).

    (e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
construed--

    (1) to authorize the Secretary to replace or reduce 
 federally funded reception and placement services for aliens; 
 or

    (2) to restrict the authority of the Secretary of Homeland 
 Security to admit aliens to the United States under any other 
 Act.

SEC. 5. COMMUNITY-BASED REFUGEE RECEPTION PROGRAM.

 Chapter 2 of title IV of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``

SEC. 415. COMMUNITY-BASED REFUGEE RECEPTION PROGRAM.

 ``

    (a) Establishment.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the 
 enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
 Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of Health and 
 Human Services, shall establish a program within the United 
 States Refugee Admission Program, to be known as the 
 `Community-based Refugee Reception Program' (referred to in 
 this section as the `Program'), which shall use community 
 sponsorship, private sponsorship, and partnerships between 
 resettlement agencies and community groups to provide refugees 
 with initial resettlement services, including reception and 
 placement with sponsors, of refugees in the United States for a 
 period of at least 90 days.
 ``

    (2) Procedure.--The Secretary shall administer a 
 procedure for accepting and approving applications for 
 community sponsorship groups to participate in the Program, 
 subject to requirements described in subsection
            (c) .
 ``

    (b) Eligibility.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--A refugee admitted to the United States 
 is eligible to participate in the Program if, pursuant to 
 processes and procedures established by the Secretary--
 ``
        (A) such individual has been referred to the 
 program to resettle refugees in the United States 
 pursuant to the authorities provided in sections 
 101

    (a)

    (42) , 207, and 412 by a community sponsorship 
 group that intends to provide reception and placement 
 services to the refugee and any immediate relative or 
 beneficiary of the refugee; and
 ``
        (B) the Secretary determines such placement is in 
 the interest of the refugee to facilitate self-
 sufficiency after considering the specific needs of the 
 refugee and any immediate relative or beneficiary of 
 the refugee.
 ``

    (2) Exception.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--A refugee referred to the 
 program to resettle refugees in the United States 
 pursuant to the authorities provided in sections 
 101

    (a)

    (42) , 207, and 412 by an entity other than a 
 community sponsorship group may be placed with a 
 community sponsorship group pursuant to 

section 415
            (c) (2) , if the Secretary determines such placement 
 is in the interest of the refugee to facilitate self-
 sufficiency in the United States.
 ``
        (B) Considerations.--In determining eligibility 
 under this paragraph, the Secretary shall consider the 
 specific needs of the refugee, or of the immediate 
 relatives or beneficiaries of such refugee, including 
 the availability of accommodations for persons with 
 disabilities.
 ``
            (c) Community Sponsorship Groups.--
 ``

    (1) Eligibility.--Community sponsorship groups that apply 
 to participate in the Program may be eligible if the Secretary 
 determines that the group has--
 ``
        (A) not less than 3 United States citizens or 
 lawful permanent residents who live within the area 
 where the refugee and the beneficiaries of such 
 refugee, if applicable, intend to be resettled;
 ``
        (B) raised sufficient funds to cover associated 
 expenses for the period of initial sponsorship for each 
 sponsored refugee, which shall be an amount determined 
 by the Secretary of State;
 ``
            (C) completed all required pre-arrival training 
 as determined by the Secretary; and
 ``
            (D) provided all required biographic information 
 of each sponsored refugee or refugees of special 
 humanitarian concern for processing to the United 
 States Refugee Admission Program according to the 
 procedures set forth by the Secretary.
 ``

    (2) Exception.--Paragraph

    (1)
            (C) shall not apply with 
 respect to community sponsorship groups that have provided 
 consent to provide for initial resettlement for any refugee, 
 and the immediate relatives or beneficiaries of such refugee, 
 determined to be eligible for admission under 

section 207 and 
 subject to the parameters provided by the community sponsorship 
 group.
 ``

    (3) Responsibilities.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Community sponsorship groups 
 shall be responsible for providing initial reception 
 and placement services similar to services provided by 
 domestic resettlement agencies and local affiliates for 
 a refugee and the immediate relatives or beneficiaries 
 of such refugee for not less than 90 days after the 
 admission of such refugee, in lieu of services 
 typically provided by domestic resettlement agencies 
 and local affiliates.
 ``
        (B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this 
 paragraph shall be construed to limit refugees from 
 accessing public benefits or services other than 
 reception and placement services.
 ``
            (d) Public-Private Partnership.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary may make grants to, and 
 enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, one or 
 more organizations to meet costs associated with training and 
 other services rendered to community sponsorship groups. Funds 
 under this paragraph shall be provided in coordination with the 
 provision of other assistance in this chapter and not in lieu 
 of payments for any other service.
 ``

    (2) Organizations.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
 recipients of grants awarded pursuant to paragraph

    (1) sufficiently reflect geographic diversity and are inclusive of 
 organizations with demonstrated experience in employing 
 community sponsorship models for refugee reception, veteran 
 service organizations, faith-based groups, and Private Sponsor 
 Organizations.
 ``

    (3) Duties.--Organizations participating in the 
 cooperative agreement shall be responsible for--
 ``
        (A) informing implementation of the Program; and
 ``
        (B) assisting the Secretary with developing--
 ``
            (i) mandatory training for all community 
 sponsorship groups to be completed prior to 
 application to the program, which shall include 
 information on--
 ``
            (I) all responsibilities of the 
 community sponsorship group throughout 
 the 90-day initial resettlement period 
 and any additional duties or 
 expectations beyond such period;
 ``
            (II) demonstrated best practices 
 for assisting refugees to attain self-
 sufficiency;
 ``
            (III) the legal rights and 
 protections of refugees;
 ``
            (IV) the general eligibility of 
 refugees to access public benefits, 
 including cash assistance, job 
 training, language training, and other 
 support authorized under this chapter; 
 and
 ``
            (V) any other requirements that 
 the Secretary determines is necessary 
 to facilitate resettlement of refugees 
 in the United States;
 ``
            (ii) policies that provide for continuity 
 of support to refugees in the event a community 
 sponsorship group is unable to fulfill its 
 responsibilities for the entirety of the 90-day 
 initial resettlement period, including 
 procedures for providing reimbursement to 
 resettlement agencies for services provided as 
 a result of any disruption in service;
 ``
            (iii) policies to prohibit waste, fraud, 
 and abuse by community sponsorship groups; and
 ``
            (iv) a mechanism for refugees to 
 independently report to the Secretary--
 ``
            (I) any criminal or negligent 
 activity by a community sponsorship 
 group; or
 ``
            (II) any behavior by a community 
 sponsorship group that otherwise 
 adversely affects the ability of the 
 refugee to establish independence in 
 the United States.
 ``

    (e) Communication With State and Local Governments.--Not later 
than 60 days after September 20, 2026, and not later than 60 days after 
the end of each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to 
representatives of State and local government, including State and 
local health agencies where community sponsorship groups are active, a 
report on current estimates of the total number of--
 ``

    (1) refugees intended to be resettled through the Program 
 within the respective State or local jurisdiction in the fiscal 
 year following the fiscal year for which the report is being 
 prepared;
 ``

    (2) community sponsorship applications received from 
 their respective jurisdiction in the preceding fiscal year; and
 ``

    (3) community sponsorship groups approved to participate 
 in the Program pending the arrival of a refugee.
 ``

    (f) Eligibility for Assistance.--Nothing in this section shall be 
interpreted to limit the access of a refugee who received initial 
reception and placement services from the Program to any assistance 
provided by the Office to aliens authorized under 

section 412 or any 
other provision of law.
 ``

    (g) Regulations.--The Secretary may issue such regulations as may 
be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.
 ``

    (h) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Reception and placement services.--The term 
 `reception and placement services' means the initial reception 
 and placement program managed by the Department of State that 
 provides initial resettlement assistance to refugees arriving 
 in the United States, such as--
 ``
        (A) the provision of housing, furnishings, 
 clothing, and food;
 ``
        (B) assistance with access to medical, 
 employment, educational, and social services; and
 ``
            (C) conducting cultural and social orientation 
 for recently arriving refugees.
 ``

    (2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
 of State.
 ``
            (i) Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated for 
fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section.''.
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