Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing the Librarian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act. I am pleased to be joined in this effort by Senators Whitehouse, Durbin, Klobuchar, Smith, Cardin, and Van Hollen.

In 1989, a seven-year civil war broke out in Liberia that claimed the lives of over 200,000 people, displaced over half of the Liberian population, halted food production, and destroyed the country's infrastructure and economy. A second civil war then followed from 1999 to 2003, further destabilizing the country and creating more turmoil and hardship for its people. Then from 2014 to 2016, Liberia faced an Ebola virus outbreak that devastated the country's fragile health system and killed nearly 5,000 people. As a result of these tragedies, thousands of Liberians sought refuge in the United States, living and working here under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) systems, extended under both Republican and Democratic administrations beginning in 1991.

The reality is that for more than a quarter of a century, the United States has been home to law-abiding and taxpaying Liberians. They fled violence, turmoil, and disease to come here. Many now have children who are American citizens, some of whom serve in the Armed Forces. They have worked hard, played by the rules, paid their dues, and submitted to rigorous vetting.

But now, as a result of President Trump's decision to terminate DED for Liberians, this population could face the risk of deportation on March 31st. Uprooting them now would be cruel and harmful to them, their families, employers, and communities.

And while things are improving on the ground in Liberia, following the first democratic transition of power in decades, there are still serious concerns about the country's stability and ability to maintain peace and deliver essential services to its population. So though few in number, the influx of Liberians from the United States could overburden the country's limited infrastructure and reverse the progress that the Liberian people and government have made.

Given these challenges, we believe that it is in the national security, foreign policy, and humanitarian interest of the United States for this population to remain here. I have introduced the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act in every Congress since 1999 because this community deserves a long-term solution after decades of uncertainty. This bill provides legal status and a pathway to citizenship for qualifying Liberians. I have worked with several of my colleagues over the years to include this pathway in comprehensive immigration reform bills that passed this body only to die in the House of Representatives.

The Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act would end the perpetual limbo for Liberians here in the United States and ensure our security interests in fostering Liberia's continuing postwar and post-Ebola recovery. This legislation offers much-needed certainty for the Liberian community, and it should be part of any bipartisan and comprehensive solution for our broken immigration system. I thank Senators Whitehouse, Durbin, Klobuchar, Smith, Cardin, and Van Hollen for cosponsoring this bill and urge our colleagues to join us to finally provide a pathway to citizenship for eligible Liberians who contribute so much to our American community. ______

By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. Duckworth):

S. 458. A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to revise certain ethylene oxide emissions standards under the Clean Air Act, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

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