Asylum

CIR ASAP Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2009

Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform ASAP Act of 2009, or the CIR ASAP Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) (Secretary) to: (1) develop and submit to Congress a National Strategy for Border Security; (2) increase the number of Customs and Border Protection officers, agriculture specialists, and border security support personnel, and enhance related equipment, assets, and technology; (3) develop a comprehensive land and maritime border surveillance plan, including aerial and integrated surveillance demonstration programs; (4) issue a rule for electronic device searches and related agent training; (5) improve coordination efforts to combat human smuggling; (6) establish a Border Communities Liaison Office in every Border Patrol sector at the southern and northern borders; (7) carry out a ports of entry technology demonstration program; and (8) establish a Southern Border Security Task Force. Authorizes appropriations for border security improvements at U.S. ports of entry. Authorizes border relief grants for tribal, state, or local law enforcement and related agencies in proximity to the border or in a designated High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Provides reimbursement for state and county prosecutors in border states for prosecuting federally initiated and referred drug cases. Suspends the Operation Streamline program pending an evaluation of its viability. Expands resources for Project Gunrunner and for Operation Armas Cruzadas along the U.S.-Mexico border. Establishes the United States-Mexico Border Enforcement Commission. Prohibits the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard, from assisting in non-emergency federal, state, local, and civilian law enforcement of immigration laws. Directs the Secretaries of DHS, Interior, Agriculture, Defense, and Commerce to develop: (1) a land border protection strategy; and (2) a borderlands environmental monitoring plan. Provides for: (1) enhanced border cooperation with Mexico; and (2) expansion of Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism programs. Sets forth detention conditions. Directs the Secretary to appoint an Immigration Detention Commission. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) immigration enforcement protections; (2) unlawful detentions; (3) protections for vulnerable populations; (4) apprehension procedures for families and family detention; (5) welfare requirements for children separated from detained or removed parents; (6) unaccompanied alien children; and (7) female detainees. Provides a stay of removal and work authorization for detained alien workers who are witnesses or necessary for workplace prosecution claims. Eliminates, with specified exceptions, DHS authority to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies to perform immigration law enforcement functions. Establishes in DHS an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Ombudsman. Eliminates the one-year asylun filing requirement. Provides for federal court review of DHS orders of removal currently exempt from such review. Establishes an alien employment verification system which requires employers to comply with: (1) document verification requirements; and (2) a phased-in electronic employment verification system. Sets forth backlog reduction provisions respecting family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant levels. Revises the definition of "immediate relative" to: (1) include the spouse and child of a lawful permanent resident; and (2) permit a qualifying widow/widower and the child or parent of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident to maintain such status while filing for permanent resident status. Increases: (1) per-country limits for family-sponsored and employment-based immigrants; and (2) specified family-unity exceptions to unlawful presence-based inadmissibility. Prohibits the removal from the United States of an individual who: (1) fled his or her homeland while under the age of 12 years old; and (2) was later admitted to the United States as a refugee, parolee, or asylee. Exempts the sons and daughters of certain naturalized Filipino World War II veterans from worldwide or numerical immigrant visa limits. Makes a minor child of an alien fiancee/fiance or of an alien spouse of a U.S. citizen eligible for derivative K-visa status under specified circumstances. Redefines "child" to include a stepchild under 21 years old. Amends the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 to: (1) require determinations with respect to children to be made using the age and status of an individual on October 21, 1998; and (2) permit an application based upon child status to be filed by a parent or guardian if the child is present in the United States on such filing date. Permits new status adjustment applications to be filed for a limited time period. Reduces the required support level for immigrant sponsorship. Establishes the Prevent Unauthorized Migration Visa (PUM Visa) program which shall provide for: (1) 100,000 PUM conditional permanent resident visas annually, for three years, to persons from countries (transitional visa admission states) which represent at least 5% of the total unauthorized migration population to the United States for the past five years; and (2) a process to adjust to permanent resident status. Exempts specified categories of U.S.-educated aliens from employment-based immigration limits. Permits a nonimmigrant alien whose employer has petitioned for an employment-based green card for such alien to file an application for adjustment of status regardless of whether an immigrant visa is immediately available. (Requires visa availability before such application may be approved.) Return of Talent Act - Establishes the Return of Talent Program to permit an eligible alien (and certain family members) to return to the alien's country of citizenship for up to two years in order to contribute to such country's postconflict or natural disaster reconstruction activities. (During such absence the alien and family members shall be considered to be continuously present and residing in the United States for naturalization purposes.) Establishes a conditional nonimmigrant status for qualifying aliens and their dependents who are illegally present or out of status in the United States and who register and meet the requirements for such status. Authorizes: (1) adjustment from conditional to permanent resident status at the earlier of six years after enactment of this Act or 30 days after specified immigrant visas become available (with exceptions to such time frame for certain students, military personnel, and employed individuals); and (2) naturalization three years after permanent resident status adjustment. Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 2009 or the AgJOBS Act of 2009 - Confers "blue card status" upon an alien who: (1) during the 24-month period ending on December 31, 2008, has performed specified lengths of, or earned a specified amount from, agricultural employment in the United States; (2) applied for such status during the 18-month application period; (3) is otherwise admissible to the United States; and (4) has not been convicted of specified felonies or misdemeanors. Limits the number of blue cards that may be issued during the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. Provides for adjustment of blue card status to permanent resident status based upon completed periods of agricultural employment. Revises H-2A visa (agricultural labor or temporary or seasonal services) provisions. Replaces the existing labor certification requirement with a labor attestation requirement containing: (1) a description of the nature and location of the job; (2) the job's expected beginning and ending dates; (3) the number of jobs; and (4) specified labor assurances respecting job opportunities covered by collective bargaining agreements and non-covered job opportunities. Establishes: (1) the Commission on Immigration and Labor Markets; and (2) the Security and Prosperity Account in the Treasury. Requires each State Workforce Agency (SWA) to establish an Internet-based American Worker Recruit and Match program. Requires employers and foreign labor contractors to provide workers recruited abroad with specified employment-related information. Amends H-1B visa (specialty occupation) employer application requirements to: (1) revise wage determination requirements; (2) require Internet posting and description of employment positions; (3) lengthen U.S. worker displacement protection; (4) apply certain requirements to all H-1B employers rather than only to H-1B dependent employers; (5) prohibit employer advertising that makes a position available only to, or gives priority to, H-1B nonimmigrants; and (6) limit the number of H-1B and L-1 visa (intracompany transfer) employees that an employer of 50 or more workers in the United States may hire. Authorizes the Department of Labor (DOL) to: (1) investigate applications for fraud; and (2) conduct H-1B compliance audits. Prohibits an employer from hiring an L-1 nonimmigrant for more than one year who will: (1) serve in a capacity involving specialized knowledge; and (2) be stationed primarily at the worksite of another employer. Specifies L-1: (1) employer petition requirements for employment at a new office; (2) wage rates and working conditions; and (3) employer penalties. Authorizes: (1) DOL to enforce federal labor laws with respect to employers of H-2B nonagricultural temporary workers; and (2) a private right of action against such employers. Specifies employer actions to recruit U.S. workers prior to filing for H-2B admissions. Sets forth H-2B and U.S. worker protections. Amends EB-5 visa (alien investor) provisions to: (1) increase EB-5 eligibility; (2) make the regional center program permanent; (3) establish $2,500 regional center designation and premium processing fees; (4) permit concurrent filing for EB-5 petitions and status adjustment applications; (5) establish in the Treasury the Immigrant Entrepreneur Regional Center Account; and (6) increase employment creation-related visas. Revises provisions regarding: (1) immigration service fees; (2) the naturalization age-based English language proficiency exemption; and (3) citizenship application background checks. Establishes the New Americans Initiative grants program to to assist lawful permanent resident aliens to become citizens. Authorizes grants for: (1) public education and community training regarding the provisions of this Act; (2) community-based organizations to assist naturalization applicants (initial entry, adjustment, and citizenship assistance grants); and (3) states to form New American Councils. Provides for the naturalization of certain graduates of U.S. high schools who are under 25 years of age on the date of application for naturalization. Establishes: (1) a tax credit and a deduction for certification expenses for teachers of English language learners; and (2) a tax credit for employer-provided adult English literacy and basic education programs. Makes funds available for oath of allegiance ceremonies.

56-665 PDF 2010 S. Hrg. 111-499 DROUGHT, FLOODING AND REFUGEES: ADDRESSING THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE WORLD'S MOST VULNERABLE NATIONS

United States · United States Senate · 15 October 2009

Secure and Safe Detention and Asylum Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 August 2009

Secure and Safe Detention and Asylum Act - Sets forth provisions regarding procedures and standards applicable to aliens detained in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody and the conditions of such custody which shall address: (1) new detention standards; (2) fair and humane treatment; (3) solitary confinement limitations; (4) investigation of grievances; (5) access to telephones and legal assistance; (6) detainee transfers; (7) translation capabilities; (8) medical care; (9) vulnerable populations; (10) standards for non-criminal detainees; (11) personnel training; and (12) reporting of detainee deaths. Establishes in DHS: (1) an Office of Detention Oversight; and (2) a detention alternatives program under which detainees may be released under enhanced supervision. Provides for: (1) legal orientation for immigration and asylum detainees; (2) construction or use of less restrictive detention facilities, including facilities for families with children; and (3) quality assurance procedures regarding expedited removal interviews. Authorizes the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom to study the effect of expedited removal provisions, practices, and procedures on asylum claims.

Calling on the Government of Sri Lanka to address the human rights and humanitarian needs of its civilian internally displaced Tamil population currently living in government-run camps by working with the United Nations and the international community to implement a process of release and resettlement of such internally displaced persons (IDPs), and allowing foreign aid groups to provide relief and resources throughout the process.

United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2009

Urges the Sri Lankan government to guarantee the safety and release of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps and to ensure the rights of these refugees in the reestablishment of their homes and properties. Calls on the Sri Lankan government to turn the operation of the camps over to civilian authorities and allow international agencies and independent nongovernmental organizations to assist in the care of the IDPs. Urges the Tamil people to continue to be patient while the government reestablishes normalcy and urges the Sri Lankan government to move forward in creating political reforms that will resolve the political concerns of the Tamil people.

Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2010

United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2009

Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2010 - Makes FY2010 appropriations for the Department of State (Department) for: (1) administration of foreign affairs and diplomatic and consular programs; (2) the civilian stabilization initiative; (3) the Capital Investment Fund; (4) the Office of Inspector General; (5) educational and cultural exchange programs; (6) representation allowances; (7) protection of foreign missions and officials; (8) U.S. embassy security, construction, and maintenance; (9) emergencies in the diplomatic and consular service; (10) the buying power maintenance account; (11) the repatriation loans program account; (12) the American Institute in Taiwan; (13) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (14) international organizations, peacekeeping, and commissions; (15) the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico; (16) plan preparation and construction of authorized projects; (17) the International Joint Commission and the International Boundary Commission, United States and Canada; (18) international fisheries commissions; (19) international broadcasting operations; (20) the Asia Foundation; (21) the United States Institute for Peace; (22) the Center for Middle Eastern-Western Dialogue Trust Fund; (23) the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships, Incorporated; (24) the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program; (25) the East-West Center; (26) the National Endowment for Democracy; (27) the Commission for Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; (28) the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom; (29) the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (30) the Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China; and (31) the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Makes FY2010 appropriations for: (1) operating expenses of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Office of Inspector General; (2) expenses of the President in carrying out certain programs under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; (3) global health and child survival; (4) specified development assistance; (5) international disaster assistance; (6) transition initiatives; (7) emergency crises; (8) development credit authority; (9) the Economic Support Fund; (10) promotion of democracy; (11) assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia; (12) international narcotics control and law enforcement; (13) nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, and demining; (14) migration and refugee assistance; (15) the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund; (16) the Peace Corps; (17) the Millennium Challenge Corporation; (18) the Inter-American Foundation; (19) the African Development Foundation; and (20) the Department of the Treasury for international affairs technical assistance activities and debt restructuring. Makes FY2010 appropriations for: (1) international military education and training; (2) foreign military financing grants; and (3) international peacekeeping operations. Makes FY2010 appropriations for: (1) international organizations and programs; (2) the Global Environment Facility; (3) the International Development Association; (4) the Clean Technology Fund; (5) the Strategic Climate Fund; (6) the Inter-American Investment Corporation; (7) the Enterprise for the Americas Multilateral Investment Fund; (8) the Asian Development Fund; (9) the African Development Fund; and (10) the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Makes FY2010 appropriations for: (1) the Export-Import Bank, including the Office of Inspector General, direct and guaranteed loan and insurance programs, and administrative expenses; (2) Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) credit and insurance programs, including administrative expenses, and for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans; and (3) the Trade and Development Agency. Sets forth certain limits and prohibitions on the use of appropriations for specified activities.

Israel Foreign Assistance Appropriations Act, 2010

United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2009

Israel Foreign Assistance Appropriations Act, 2010 - Appropriates FY2010 funds for Israel for: (1) refugee resettlement; and (2) foreign military credit sales. Conditions the availability of: (1) FY2010 appropriations for a voluntary contribution to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) upon a determination by the Secretary of State that Israel is not being denied IAEA participation; and (2) certain appropriations to support a Palestinian state upon a determination by the Secretary that the Palestinian governing entity has demonstrated a commitment to peaceful co-existence with Israel and is taking appropriate counterterrorism measures. Expresses the sense of Congress against the Arab League boycott of Israel. Prohibits the expenditure of specified funds to create in any part of Jerusalem a new government office of any U.S. department or agency for the purpose of conducting official U.S. business with the Palestinian Authority (PA) or successor governing entity over Gaza and Jericho.

North Korea Accountability Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2009

North Korea Accountability Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of State to designate North Korea, for specified purposes of the Export Administration Act of 1979, the Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as a country that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. Authorizes the President to waive such requirement upon a certification to Congress that North Korea has taken certain actions regarding: (1) nuclear program and proliferation disclosures; (2) the illegal transfer of missile or nuclear technology; (3) support of international terrorist groups; and (4) prisoner release. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prohibit, with waiver authority, a financial institution from engaging in financial transactions with a foreign bank that is engaged in a financial transaction with the government or a governmental agent of North Korea or a senior government or military official of North Korea. Directs the President to strengthen military cooperation with Japan and South Korea. Sets forth reporting requirements regarding: (1) implementation of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004; (2) financial transaction with North Korea or trade in precious metals produced in North Korea; (3) the North Korean nuclear weapons program; (4) counterproliferation efforts; (5) implementation of specified U.N. Security Council Resolutions; and (6) North Korean refugees admitted into the United States. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) completion of ground-based missile interceptor deployment at Fort Greely, Alaska; (2) development of a variant of the F-22 fighter aircraft for sale to Japan; and (3) expansion of radio broadcasting to North Korea. Directs the Secretary of State to reallocate specified funds for programs to advance human rights for the people of North Korea.

Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011

United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2009

Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2010 - Makes FY2010 appropriations for the Department of State (Department) for: (1) administration of foreign affairs and diplomatic and consular programs; (2) the civilian stabilization initiative; (3) the Capital Investment Fund; (4) the Office of Inspector General; (5) educational and cultural exchange programs; (6) representation allowances; (7) protection of foreign missions and officials; (8) U.S. embassy security, construction, and maintenance; (9) emergencies in the diplomatic and consular service; (10) the buying power maintenance account; (11) the repatriation loans program account; (12) the American Institute in Taiwan; (13) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (14) international organizations, peacekeeping, and commissions; (15) the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico; (16) plan preparation and construction of authorized projects; (17) the International Joint Commission and the International Boundary Commission, United States and Canada; (18) international fisheries commissions; (19) international broadcasting operations; (20) the Asia Foundation; (21) the United States Institute for Peace; (22) the Center for Middle Eastern-Western Dialogue Trust Fund; (23) the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships, Incorporated; (24) the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program; (25) the National Endowment for Democracy; (26) the Commission for Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; (27) the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom; (28) the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (29) the Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China; and (30) the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Makes FY2010 appropriations for: (1) operating and international development expenses of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Office of Inspector General; (2) expenses of the President in carrying out certain programs under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; (3) global health and child survival; (4) specified development assistance; (5) international disaster assistance; (6) transition initiatives; (7) development credit authority; (8) the Economic Support Fund; (9) promotion of democracy; (10) the International Fund for Ireland; (11) assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia; (12) international narcotics control and law enforcement; (13) nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, and demining; (14) migration and refugee assistance; (15) the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund; (16) the Peace Corps; (17) the Millennium Challenge Corporation; (18) the Inter-American Foundation; (19) the African Development Foundation; and (20) the Department of the Treasury for international affairs technical assistance activities and debt restructuring. Makes FY2010 appropriations for: (1) international military education and training; (2) foreign military financing grants; and (3) international peacekeeping operations. Makes FY2010 appropriations for: (1) international organizations and programs; (2) the Global Environment Facility; (3) the International Development Association; (4) the Clean Technology Fund; (5) the Strategic Climate Fund; (6) the Inter-American Investment Corporation; (7) the Enterprise for the Americas Multilateral Investment Fund; (8) the Asian Development Fund; (9) the African Development Fund; and (10) the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Makes FY2010 appropriations for: (1) the Export-Import Bank, including the Office of Inspector General, direct and guaranteed loan and insurance programs, and administrative expenses; (2) Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) credit and insurance programs, including administrative expenses, and for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans; and (3) the Trade and Development Agency. Sets forth certain limits and prohibitions on the use of appropriations for specified activities.

Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2009

Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2009 - Prohibits the federal government from providing the government of Vietnam with nonhumanitarian development, trade, economic, and security assistance during any fiscal year that exceeds the amount of such assistance provided during FY2009, unless such increases are matched or exceeded by additional funding for programs focusing on human rights and democracy promotion. Authorizes the President to waive such requirements if increased U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance would promote the purposes of this Act or it is otherwise in the U.S. national interest. Prohibits the President from providing certain duty-free treatment for Vietnam until the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam protects freedom of association and does not engage in violations of workers' rights. Authorizes the President to provide U.S. assistance through appropriate nongovernmental organizations and the Human Rights Defenders Fund for the support of individuals and organizations to promote human rights in Vietnam. Expresses the sense of Congress regarding diplomacy with the government of Vietnam. Declares it is U.S. policy: (1) to take such measures as are necessary to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by the government of Vietnam; and (2) that educational and cultural exchange programs with Vietnam should promote progress toward freedom and democracy. Declares it is U.S. policy to offer refugee resettlement to Vietnam nationals (including members of the Montagnard ethnic minority groups) who were eligible for the Humanitarian Resettlement program, the Orderly Departure program, the Resettlement Opportunities for Vietnamese Returnees program, the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988, or any other U.S. refugee program, but who were deemed ineligible for reasons of administrative error or certain circumstances beyond their control.

Protecting America's Communities Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2009

Protecting America's Communities Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the admission, asylum entry, or parole entry into the United States of an alien who, as of January 1, 2009, was being detained by the Department of Defense (DOD) at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. Requires the additional six-month detainment of such an alien ordered removed if the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) certifies that: (1) the alien cannot be removed due to the refusal of all countries designated by the alien to receive the alien; and (2) the Secretary is making reasonable efforts to find alternative means for removing the alien. Authorizes the Secretary to renew such certification after providing the alien with an opportunity to request and provide evidentiary support for reconsideration of the detainment certification. Prohibits: (1) an immigration judge or official of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement from releasing a detained alien on bond or parole; and (2) the Secretary from delegating certification authority to an official below the level of the Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Directs the Attorney General to take into custody upon release an alien who, as of January 1, 2009, was being detained by DOD at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. Reaffirms that: (1) the United States is in an armed conflict with Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces; and (2) the President is authorized to detain enemy combatants in connection with such conflict regardless of their place of capture.

Foreign Relations Authorization and Reform Act, Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011

United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2009

Foreign Relations Authorization and Reform Act, Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011 - Authorizes FY2010-FY2011 appropriations for: (1) the Department of State (Department) for the administration of foreign affairs; (2) international organizations; (3) international commissions; (4) migration and refugee assistance; and (5) centers and foundations. Revises provisions regarding local guard and protective service contracts in high risk areas abroad. Extends the program of grants for scholarships to U.S.-sponsored elementary and secondary schools in countries with predominantly Muslim populations. Names scholarships under the United States-South Pacific Scholarship Program as Burton Scholarships. Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish an educational exchange program between the United States and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries (Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Program). Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) an exchange and scholarship program in cooperation with the Women's Legislative Caucus in Liberia; and (2) a public diplomacy plan in the event that temporary protected status is extended to Haitian nationals in the United States. Extends the passport surcharge authority. Directs the President to provide grants to nongovernmental organizations to support sustainable economic development, cultural and historical preservation, health care, education, and environmental projects for Tibetan communities in the Tibet Autonomous Region and in other Tibetan communities in the the People's Republic of China (PRC). Authorizes the Secretary to establish a Tibet Section within the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, PRC, until such time as a U.S. consulate in Tibet is established. Directs the Secretary to seek to establish a U.S. consulate in Lhasa, Tibet. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship Program and a Security Officers Exchange Program under which the Secretary may temporarily assign a Foreign Service member to a position with any designated country or entity that permits an employee to be assigned to a Department position. Revises Foreign Service member-related provisions. Directs the Secretary to provide for the protection of intellectual property rights of U.S. persons in other countries. States that it should be U.S. policy to ensure that same-sex domestic partners of Foreign Service Officers are provided with the same benefits, protections, and services currently provided to eligible family members under the Foreign Affairs Manual. Authorizes appropriations for the refurbishment or replacement of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards Analytical Laboratory. Prohibits U.S. contributions from being made to: (1) the Durban Review Conference; (2) Iran-led organizations within the United Nations; (3) the United Nations Human Rights Council; and (4) the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Withholds certain U.N. funds. Authorizes appropriations for international broadcasting. Establishes permanent authority for Radio Free Asia. United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act of 2009 - Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to: (1) shifting the funding mechanism for the regular budget of the United Nations from an assessed to a voluntary basis; (2) reform of U.N. peacekeeping operations; and (3) Security Council expansion. Withholds a portion of nonvoluntary U.S. contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations unless the Secretary of State makes specified certifications. Establishes the Office of the United States Inspector General for Contributions to the United Nations System. Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of a U.S. contribution to any U.N. entity unless the entity has provided the Inspector General with a transparency certification. Withholds annual U.S. contributions to UNRWA and to the United Nations Human Rights Council until certain conditions are certified. Directs the President to use U.S. influence at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to: (1) establish an Office of Compliance in the Secretariat of the IAEA; and (2) prohibit Iran's access to nuclear material, technology, equipment, or assistance until the IAEA determines that Iran is providing full access to IAEA inspectors and has permanently ceased and dismantled all nuclear-enrichment and reprocessing activities. Western Hemisphere Counterterrorism and Nonproliferation Act of 2009 - Authorizes the President to impose specified sanctions on any country in the Western Hemisphere that the President has determined is engaged in state sponsored terrorism, is carrying out policies that threaten U.S. national security interests, or is not fully cooperating with U.S. counterterrorism or nonproliferation efforts. Redirects 50% of the U.S. contribution to the Organization of American States (OAS) to the OAS Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism, the OAS Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission, and the Western Hemisphere Regional Coordination Centers. Directs the Secretary to negotiate the establishment of: (1) Western Hemisphere Regional Coordination Centers; and (2) the Western Hemisphere Nonproliferation Partnership Initiative. Places restrictions on nuclear cooperation with countries assisting the nuclear program of Venezuela or Cuba. Defense Trade Controls Performance Improvement Act of 2009 - Directs the President to perform a strategic review and assessment of the U.S. export controls system. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide for specified performance requirements for license applications to export or import United States Munitions List items; (2) ensure that the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has the necessary staff and resources; and (3) review the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the United States Munitions List to determine those technologies and goods that warrant different or additional controls. Authorizes the President, under specified conditions, to provide for special licensing authorization for exports of spare and replacement parts or components of defense items exported to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states, Australia, Japan, Israel, South Korea, and New Zealand. Directs the President to make available to the appropriate congressional committees Arms Export Control Act-related directives concerning export policies, practices, and regulations. Authorizes the President to remove satellites and related components from the United States Munitions List, except for any satellite or related component that may be transferred to, or launched into outer space by, the PRC. Directs the Inspector General to review Department investigations of possible misuse of United States-origin defense items. Revises penalty provisions with respect to: (1) control of arms exports and imports; and (2) military sales agent fees. Authorizes the Secretary to provide training, procurement, and capacity-building for foreign military and counterterrorism forces in order to: (1) conduct counterterrorist operations; or (2) participate in military and stability operations with the United States. Extends through FY2011 the President's authority to transfer excess items to the Department of Defense War Reserve Stockpile. Authorizes the President for FY2010-FY2011 to provide for the crating, packing, handling, and transportation of excess defense articles to specified countries. Directs the President to designate a Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Implement the Merida Initiative. Authorizes the the President to incorporate the CARICOM countries into the Merida Initiative. Sets forth specified reporting and assessment provisions. Authorizes assistance to support the reunification of Cyprus. Places specified limitations on assistance to: (1) the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM); and (2) the Palestinian Authority (PA). Sets forth U.S. policy and sense of Congress statements regarding: (1) Turkey and the Ecumenical Patriarchate; (2) civilian nuclear cooperation with Jordan; (3) religious freedom in Vietnam; (4) Israel; and (5) the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC). Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary to administer a grant program to promote freedom of the press worldwide. Directs the President, through the Secretary, to establish a multi-year strategy to prevent child marriage in developing countries and promote the empowerment of girls at risk of child marriage in developing countries. Authorizes a program to improve building construction in Haiti. Makes FY2010-FY2011 funds available for contributions to the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance. Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009 - Amends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to direct the President to impose two or more current sanctions under such Act if a person has, with actual knowledge, made an investment of $20 million or more (or any combination of investments of at least $5 million which in the aggregate equals or exceeds $20 million in any 12-month period) that directly and significantly contributed to Iran's ability to develop its petroleum resources. (Under current law the sanction thresholds are $40 million, $10 million, and $40 million, respectively.) Directs the President to impose: (1) sanctions established under this Act (in addition to any current sanctions imposed under the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996) if a person has, with actual knowledge, sold, leased, or provided to Iran any goods, services, technology, information, or support that would allow Iran to maintain or expand its domestic production of refined petroleum resources; and (2) sanctions established under this Act if a person has, with actual knowledge, provided Iran with refined petroleum resources or engaged in any activity that could contribute to Iran's ability to import refined petroleum resources. Establishes additional sanctions prohibiting specified foreign exchange, banking, and property transactions. Limitation on Nuclear Cooperation with the United Arab Emirates Act of 2009 - Prohibits any agreement for cooperation from entering into force or any license to be issued for the export of nuclear material, equipment, or technology between the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) unless the President makes specified certifications. Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2009 - Provides that a state law creating a cause of action against an insurer or related company based on a claim arising out of a covered policy (in effect at any time after January 30, 1933, and before December 31, 1945, issued to a policyholder in any Nazi-controlled area) shall not be invalid by reason of any Executive agreement between the United States and any foreign country. Belarus Arms Transfers Accountability Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding: (1) exports of weapons and related services by the government of Belarus and Belarusian enterprises; (2) whether civilian nuclear cooperation agreements and activities involving Iran, Belarus, or Venezuela are being used to spread nuclear arms technology and expertise; and (3) sale or delivery of weapons or weapons-related technologies from Belarus to any country that is designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009

United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2009

Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes supplemental appropriations for FY2009 to: (1) the Department of Agriculture for the Foreign Agricultural Service for Public Law 480 Title II grants (supplemental food program); (2) the Department of Commerce for Economic Development Administration (EDA) for assistance programs; and (3) the Department of Justice (DOJ), including for U.S. Marshals Services, the National Security Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Federal Prison System. Makes FY2009 supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for: (1) military personnel; (2) operation and maintenance; (3) the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund; (4) the Iraq Security Forces Fund; (5) the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund; (6) procurement; (7) the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Fund; (8) research, development, test, and evaluation; (9) Defense Working Capital Funds; (10) the Defense Health Program; (11) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; (12) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (13) the Office of Inspector General; (14) the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers - Civil for operation and maintenance, and flood control and coastal emergencies; (15) military construction for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force and DOD; (16) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program; and (17) the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 2005. Makes FY2009 supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Department of Energy (DOE) for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and the National Nuclear Security Administration for defense nuclear nonproliferation; (2) the Department of the Treasury; (3) the Executive Office of the President for the National Security Council and for Pandemic Preparedness and Response; (4) the Judiciary for the courts of appeals, district courts, and other judicial services; (5) the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC); (6) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, air and marine interdiction, operations, maintenance, and procurement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for state and local programs; (7) the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service, for wildland fire management; (8) the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Administration for Children and Families for refugee and entrant assistance; (9) the legislative branch for the Capitol Police and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO); (10) the Department of State for diplomatic and consular programs, the Office of Inspector General, and embassy security, construction, and maintenance; (11) contributions for international peacekeeping activities; (12) the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for operating expenses, the Capital Investment Fund, and the Office of Inspector General; (13) bilateral economic assistance, including global health and child survival; (14) international disaster assistance; (15) the Economic Support Fund; (16) assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia; (17) international narcotics control and law enforcement; (18) nonproliferation, antiterrorism, demining, and related programs; (19) migration and refugee assistance; (20) peacekeeping operations; (21) International Military Education and Training (IMET); (22) the Foreign Military Financing Program; (23) the Department of Transportation (DOT) for payments to air carriers and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for grants-in-aid for airports; and (24) multilateral development bank replenishments, including the U.S. quota in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as loans to the IMF. Rescinds specified funds from various accounts. Specifies authorized, restricted, and prohibited uses of appropriated funds. Earmarks funds for specified assistance programs.

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011

United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2009

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011 - Authorizes FY2010-FY2011 appropriations for: (1) the Department of State (Department) for the administration of foreign affairs; (2) international organizations; (3) international commissions; (4) migration and refugee assistance; and (5) centers and foundations. Authorizes the Secretary of State (Secretary) to establish in the Foreign Service a Public Diplomacy Reserve Corps consisting of mid- and senior-level former Foreign Service officers and other individuals to serve for a period of six months to two years abroad. Provides for the enhancement of U.S. diplomatic outreach, including: (1) establishment of new, and maintenance of existing, libraries and resource centers in connection with U.S. diplomatic and consular missions; and (2) grants for documentary film programs. Extends the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) grants to U.S.-sponsored elementary and secondary schools in countries with predominantly Muslim populations for scholarships; (2) the United States-South Pacific Scholarship Program (Burton Scholarships); and (3) scholarships for indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central and South America to study in the United States. Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) a Central Asia scholarship pilot program for public policy internships in the United States; (2) an exchange program to provide scholarships for Sri Lankan students from various ethnic, religious, linguistic, and other minority groups to participate in post-conflict resolution workshops; and (3) an exchange and scholarship program in cooperation with the Women's Legislative Caucus in Liberia. Authorizes the Secretary to establish an educational exchange program between the United States and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries (Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Program). Revises provisions regarding the Vietnam Education Foundation. Authorizes grants for academic management programs in Vietnam. Makes the passport surchage authority permanent. Directs the Secretary to revise the refugee processing system to prioritize refugees who are most urgently in need of resettlement. Directs: (1) the President to implement policies to address the resettlement needs of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs); (2) the Secretary to seek to increase FY2010 resources available to process such applicants in Iraq; and (3) the Secretary to work with the international community to develop a long-term international strategy for Iraqi refugees and IDPs. Directs the President to: (1) require the National Security Council (NSC) to ensure that U.S. policy on Tibet is coordinated with all executive agencies in contact with the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC); and (2) provide grants to nongovernmental organizations to support sustainable economic development, cultural and historical preservation, health care, education, and environmental projects for Tibetan communities in the Tibet Autonomous Region and in other Tibetan communities in the PRC. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a Tibet Section within the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, PRC, until such time as a U.S. consulate in Tibet is established. Directs the Secretary to seek to establish a U.S. consulate in Lhasa, Tibet. Authorizes Foreign Service personnel increases at the Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Directs the President to: (1) develop and transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a national U.S. diplomacy strategy; and (2) conduct a comprehensive review of such strategy every four years (Quadrennial Review of Diplomacy and Development). Authorizes the Secretary to establish in the Department a Lessons Learned Center as a central organization for the collection and analysis of best practices and lessons learned by Foreign Service officers and USAID personnel. Foreign Service Overseas Pay Equity Act of 2009 - Extends comparability pay adjustments to Foreign Service members assigned abroad. Amends the death gratuity computation payable to surviving dependents of Foreign Service employees who die from injuries sustained in the performance of duty abroad. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) establish a Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship Program and a Security Officers Exchange Program under which the Secretary may temporarily assign a Foreign Service member to a position with any designated country or entity that permits an employee to be assigned to a Department position; (2) suspend a Foreign Service member without pay when the member's security clearance is suspended or when there is reasonable cause to believe that the member has committed a crime for which a sentence of imprisonment may be imposed; and (3) establish a personal services contractor pilot program. Revises additional Foreign Service member-related provisions. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide for the protection of intellectual property rights of U.S. persons in other countries; and (2) appoint 10 intellectual property attaches. Extends specified benefits under the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to same-sex domestic partners of Foreign Service members. Establishes the Office for Global Women's Issues. United States International Leadership Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees whether a new cone should be established for the Foreign Service that concentrates on members of who serve at international and multilateral institutions or are primarily responsible for participation in multilateral negotiations. Authorizes the Secretary to establish an Office on Multilateral Negotiations. Authorizes appropriations to pay U.S. arrearages to the United Nations recognized by the United States. Establishes in the Department the Fund to Promote Multiculteralism in the Americas. Extends the 27.1% U.S. share of assessed contributions for U.N. peacekeeping operations through 2011. Authorizes appropriations for the refurbishment or replacement of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards Analytical Laboratory. Authorizes appropriations for international broadcasting. Establishes permanent authority for Radio Free Asia. Authorizes: (1) the Director of the Peace Corps to establish a special program that assigns returned Peace Corps volunteers to provide short-term development or other relief assistance; and (2) appropriations for the Peace Corps. Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2009 - Establishes in the executive branch the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation. Requires the Foundation to award grants, including for study in nontraditional study abroad destinations, to: (1) U.S. students; (2) nongovernmental institutions that provide and promote study abroad opportunities for U.S. students in consortium with institutions of higher education; and (3) institutions of higher education, individually or in consortium. Authorizes appropriations. Defense Trade Controls Performance Improvement Act of 2009 - Directs the President to perform a strategic review and assessment of the U.S. export controls system. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide for specified performance requirements for license applications to export or import United States Munitions List items; (2) ensure that the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has the necessary staff and resources; and (3) review the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the United States Munitions List to determine those technologies and goods that warrant different or additional controls. Authorizes the President, under specified conditions, to provide for special licensing authorization for exports of spare and replacement parts or components of defense items exported to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states, Australia, Japan, Israel, South Korea, and New Zealand. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the President to make available to the appropriate congressional committees Arms Export Control Act-related directives concerning export policies, practices, and regulations. Authorizes the President to remove satellites and related components from the United States Munitions List, except for any satellite or related component that may be transferred to, or launched into outer space by, the PRC. Directs the Inspector General to review Department investigations of possible misuse of United States-origin defense items. Revises penalty provisions with respect to: (1) control of arms exports and imports; and (2) military sales agent fees. Authorizes the Secretary to provide training, procurement, and capacity-building for foreign military and counterterrorism forces in order to: (1) conduct counterterrorist operations; or (2) participate in military and stability operations with the United States. Authorizes appropriations. Extends through FY2011 the President's authority to transfer excess items to the Department of Defense War Reserve Stockpile. Authorizes the President for FY2010-FY2011 to provide for the crating, packing, handling, and transportation of excess defense articles to specified countries. Directs the President to designate a Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Implement the Merida Initiative. Authorizes the the President to incorporate the CARICOM countries into the Merida Initiative. Directs the President to establish the Task Force on the Prevention of Illicit Small Arms Trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. Sets forth monetary and prison penalties for illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons to Mexico. Includes in the Department rewards program the arrest or conviction of any individual for illegally exporting small arms or light weapons to Mexico. Expresses congressional support for U.S. ratification of the Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials. Directs the Secretary to submit to the appropriate congressional committees: (1) an assessment on the continuing needs of the Special Court for Sierra Leone; and (2) a report for a government-wide strategy and the strengthening of U.S. civilian capacities for preventing genocide and mass civilian atrocities. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should establish a bilateral commission between the United States and Nigeria to support multifaceted cooperation. Authorizes appropriations to: (1) establish a diabetes prevention and treatment program for Pacific Island countries and for safe water and sanitation; and (2) improve United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) assistance to de jure or de facto stateless individuals. Directs the President to make the prevention and reduction of de jure or de facto statelessness an important goal of U.S. foreign policy and human rights efforts. Authorizes appropriations. Prohibits, with waiver authority, the Secretary from providing hurricane preparedness and other weather cooperation assistance to countries that do not cooperate with the United States in such matters. Authorizes the Secretary to use specified funds to carry out and expand Global Peace Operations Initiative programs. Authorizes appropriations. Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary to administer a grant program to promote freedom of the press worldwide. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the President, through the Secretary, to establish a multi-year strategy to prevent child marriage in developing countries and promote the empowerment of girls at risk of child marriage in developing countries. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth sense of Congress and policy statements regarding: (1) Afghan women and the Shi'ite Personal Status Law; (2) Turkey and the Ecumenical Patriarchate; (3) consular services in Moldova; (4) the global arms trade; (5) Dina Babbitt; (6) Somalia; (7) Sri Lanka; (8) West Papua; (9) Soviet nuclear tests and Kazakhstan's commitment to nonproliferation; and (10) Holocaust-era property restitution.

Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009

United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2009

Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes supplemental appropriations for FY2009 for the Department of Defense (DOD) for: (1) military personnel; (2) operation and maintenance; (3) the Iraq Freedom Fund; (4) the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund; (5) the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund; (6) procurement; (7) research, development, test and evaluation; (8) Defense Working Capital Funds; (9) the Defense Health Program; (10) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; (11) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (12) the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Fund; (13) the Office of Inspector General; (14) military construction for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and DOD; (15) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program; and (16) the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 2005. Rescinds specified funds from various accounts under prior defense appropriations Acts. Makes supplemental appropriations for: (1) the Department of Agriculture for the Foreign Agricultural Service for Public Law 480 Title II grants (supplemental food program) and wildland fire management; (2) the Department of Justice (DOJ), including for the National Security Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Prison System; (3) the Department of Energy for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; (4) the National Nuclear Security Administration for defense nuclear nonproliferation; (5) the Executive Office of the President for the National Security Council; (6) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for firefighter assistance grants; (7) the Department of the Interior for wildland fire management; (8) the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund; (8) the Capitol Police; (9) the Department of State for diplomatic and consular programs, the Office of Inspector General, and embassy security, construction, and maintenance; (10) contributions for international peacekeeping activities; (11) the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for operating expenses, the Capital Investment Fund, and the Office of Inspector General; (12) global health and child survival; (13) international disaster assistance; (14) the Economic Support Fund; (15) assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia; (16) international narcotics control and law enforcement; (17) nonproliferation, antiterrorism, demining, and related programs; (18) migration and refugee assistance; (19) peacekeeping operations; (20) international military education and training; (21) the Foreign Military Financing Program; and (22) the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund. Specifies authorized, restricted, and prohibited uses of appropriated funds. Earmarks funds for specified assistance programs.

Eric P. Schwartz, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Population, Refugees, and Migration), vice Ellen R. Sauerbrey.

United States · United States Senate · 6 May 2009

English Language Unity Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2009

English Language Unity Act of 2009 - Makes English the official language of the United States. Requires, subject to exceptions and rules of construction, that: (1) official functions of the United States be conducted in English; and (2) all naturalization ceremonies be conducted in English. Establishes a uniform English language rule for naturalization. Makes English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, presumptively consistent with the laws of the United States. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue for public notice and comment a proposed rule for uniform testing of English language ability of candidates for naturalization based upon the principles that: (1) all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the laws of the United States; and (2) any exceptions to this standard should be limited to extraordinary circumstances, such as asylum.

Liberian Refugee Immigration Protection Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2009

Liberian Refugee Immigration Protection Act of 2009 - Provides for the permanent resident status adjustment of certain Liberian nationals who were granted, or are eligible to apply for, temporary protected status on or after March 27, 1991.

THE RISING STAKES OF REFUGEE ISSUES IN CHINA

United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2009

A resolution expressing support for designation of May 2, 2009, as "Vietnamese Refugees Day".

United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2009

Supports the designation of May 2, 2009, as Vietnamese Refugees Day to commemorate the arrival and integration of Vietnamese refugees in the United States.

A resolution recognizing June 6, 2009, as the 70th anniversary of the tragic date when the M.S. St. Louis, a ship carrying Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany, returned to Europe after its passengers were refused admittance to the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 23 April 2009

Recognizes that June 6, 2009, marks the 70th anniversary of the date when the M.S. St. Louis returned to Europe after its passengers were refused admittance to the United States and other Western Hemisphere countries. Honors the memory of the 937 refugees aboard the M.S. St. Louis, most of whom were Jews fleeing Nazi oppression, and 254 of whom subsequently died during the Holocaust. Recognizes such anniversary as an opportunity to raise awareness about an important historical event whose lessons are relevant to current and future generations.

Expressing support for designation of May 2, 2009, as "Vietnamese Refugees Day".

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2009

Supports the designation of May 2, 2009, as Vietnamese Refugees Day to commemorate the arrival and integration of Vietnamese refugees in the United States.

PEACE Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2009

Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2009 or the PEACE Act of 2009 - Authorizes the President to provide assistance for Pakistan to enhance: (1) democratic institutions in order to strengthen civilian rule and long-term stability; (2) the judicial system and law enforcement; (3) economic development; (4) national, provincial, and local governmental and nongovernmental institutions; (5) public education; (6) human rights, including establishment of an independent National Human Rights Commission; (7) health care; and (8) cultural and educational programs. Expresses the sense of Congress in favor of efforts to assist refugees and displaced persons in Pakistan. States that to the extent that Pakistan continues to evolve toward civilian control of the government and to implement economic reform programs, the President should mobilize multilateral support for Pakistan. Establishes in the Treasury the Pakistan Democracy and Prosperity Fund. Obligates funding for Pakistan for: (1) international military education and training; and (2) the foreign military financing program. Restricts the use of funding for the purchase of, or upgrade to, F-16 fighter aircraft and munitions. Authorizes the President, subject to congressional notification, to direct the drawdown of Department of Defense (DOD) articles, services, and military education and training and make such articles, services, and education and training available to Pakistan. Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish the Pakistan military transition program to foster the principle of civilian rule through exchanges between military and civilian personnel of Pakistan and similar personnel from countries in transition to democracy and from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries. Prohibits military assistance from being provided to Pakistan if: (1) the President fails to determine that Pakistan is taking actions to dismantle nuclear weapons-material supply networks and to combat terrorist groups; or (2) a joint resolution disapproving any such determination is enacted into law. Excludes from such prohibition assistance to counter terrorism along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Requires that authorizations of appropriations for counterterrorism assistance to Pakistan be made available only with the concurrence of the Secretary of State. Directs the President to: (1) develop a regional security strategy to work with the government of Pakistan and other relevant governments and organizations to implement counterinsurgency and counterterrorism efforts in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas; and (2) implement a system to evaluate the effectiveness of democratic, economic, and social development assistance provided to Pakistan under this Act. Requires that any direct U.S. assistance made on or after January 1, 2010, to the government of Pakistan be provided to, or received from, civilian authorities of a freely elected government of Pakistan. Terminates the authority of this Act after September 30, 2013.

Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2009

Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2009 - Prohibits U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance to the government of Vietnam in excess of FY2009 amounts unless: (1) the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam has made substantial progress respecting political, media, and religious freedoms, minority rights, access to U.S. refugee programs, and actions to end trafficking in persons; and (2) the federal government provides assistance, in addition to democracy building assistance under this Act, supporting human rights training, civil society building, and exchange programs between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the United States Congress at levels commensurate with or exceeding any increases in nonhumanitarian assistance to Vietnam. Authorizes the President to waive such requirements if increased U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance would promote the purposes of this Act or is otherwise in the U.S. national interest. Prohibits the provision of duty-free treatment for eligible articles from Vietnam until the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam protects freedom of association and does not engage in serious labor rights violations. Authorizes the President to provide U.S. assistance through appropriate nongovernmental organizations and the Human Rights Defenders Fund for the support of individuals and organizations to promote human rights in Vietnam. Declares it is U.S. policy: (1) to take measures to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by the government of Vietnam; and (2) that educational and cultural exchange programs with Vietnam should promote progress toward freedom and democracy. Declares it is U.S. policy to offer refugee resettlement to Vietnam nationals (including members of the Montagnard ethnic minority groups) who were eligible for the Humanitarian Resettlement program, the Orderly Departure program, the Resettlement Opportunities for Vietnamese Returnees program, the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988, or any other U.S. refugee program, but who were deemed ineligible for reasons of administrative error or who failed to apply because of circumstances beyond their control.

TREATMENT OF LATIN AMERICANS OF JAPANESE DESCENT, EUROPEAN AMERICANS, AND JEWISH REFUGEES DURING WORLD WAR II

United States · United States House of Representatives · 19 March 2009

Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2009

Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2009 - Adjusts to permanent resident status a qualifying Liberian national who: (1) has been continuously present in the United States from January 1, 2009, through the date of status adjustment application; or (2) is the spouse, child, or unmarried son or daughter of such an alien. Requires adjustment applications to be filed before April 1, 2011.

HRIFA Improvement Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 17 March 2009

HRIFA Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 to: (1) require determinations with respect to children to be made using the age and status of an individual on October 21, 1998 (enactment date of the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998); (2) permit an application based upon child status to be filed by a parent or guardian if the child is present in the United States on such filing date; and (3) include document fraud among the grounds of inadmissibility which shall not preclude an otherwise qualifying Haitian alien from permanent resident status adjustment. Permits new status adjustment applications to be filed for a limited time period. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish procedures for reopening status adjustment applications that are affected by amendments made by this Act.

Wartime Treatment Study Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2009

Wartime Treatment Study Act - Establishes the Commission on Wartime Treatment of European Americans to review U.S. government wartime treatment (from September 1, 1939, through December 31, 1948) of European Americans and European Latin Americans. Requires the Commission to review: (1) government actions with respect to European Americans and European Latin Americans pursuant to United States laws and directives, including the Alien Enemies Acts, Presidential Proclamations 2526, 2527, 2655, 2662, 2685, Executive Orders 9066 and 9095, and related directives pursuant to these and other pertinent laws, proclamations, or executive orders; (2) registration requirements, travel and property restrictions, internment, and forced abandonment of property; (3) participation by European Americans in the U.S. Armed Forces; and (4) appropriate remedies, including public education programs and the creation of a comprehensive online database by the National Archives and Records Administration of documents related to the government's wartime treatment of European Americans and European Latin Americans during World War II. Establishes the Commission on Wartime Treatment of Jewish Refugees to review the U.S. government's refusal to allow entry into the United States of Jewish and other refugees fleeing persecution or genocide in Europe. Directs the Commission to include reviews of: (1) the rationale for such refusal, its perceived benefit, and its impact on refugees; and (2) federal refugee policy concerning those fleeing persecution or genocide.

Wartime Treatment Study Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2009

Wartime Treatment Study Act - Establishes the Commission on Wartime Treatment of European Americans to review U.S. government wartime treatment (from September 1, 1939, through December 31, 1948) of European Americans and European Latin Americans. Requires the Commission to review: (1) government actions with respect to European Americans and European Latin Americans pursuant to United States laws and directives, including the Alien Enemies Acts, Presidential Proclamations 2526, 2527, 2655, 2662, 2685, Executive Orders 9066 and 9095, and related directives pursuant to these and other pertinent laws, proclamations, or executive orders; (2) registration requirements, travel and property restrictions, internment, and forced abandonment of property; (3) participation by European Americans in the U.S. Armed Forces; and (4) appropriate remedies, including public education programs and the creation of a comprehensive online database by the National Archives and Records Administration of documents related to the government's wartime treatment of European Americans and European Latin Americans during World War II. Establishes the Commission on Wartime Treatment of Jewish Refugees to review the U.S. government's refusal to allow entry into the United States of Jewish and other refugees fleeing persecution or genocide in Europe. Directs the Commission to include reviews of: (1) the rationale for such refusal, its perceived benefit, and its impact on refugees; and (2) federal refugee policy concerning those fleeing persecution or genocide.

Recognizing the plight of the Tibetan people on the 50th anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama being forced into exile and calling for a sustained multilateral effort to bring about a durable and peaceful solution to the Tibet issue.

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2009

Recognizes: (1) the Tibetan people for their perseverance in the face of adversity and for creating a democratic community in exile that sustains the Tibetan identity; and (2) the government and people of India for their generosity toward the Tibetan refugee population. Calls upon: (1) the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to respond to the Dalai Lama's initiatives to find a lasting solution to the Tibetan issue; and (2) the Administration to recommit to a sustained effort to press the PRC to respect the Tibetans' identity and human rights.

Tibetan Refugee Assistance Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2009

Tibetan Refugee Assistance Act of 2009 - Makes 3,000 immigrant visas in FY2010-FY2012 available to individuals who: (1) were born in Tibet; and (2) have been continuously residing in India or Nepal prior to the date of the enactment of this Act. Makes such visas available to the sons, daughters, grandsons, or granddaughters of such individuals.

To prohibit the presence in the United States of any alien formerly detained at the Department of Defense detention facility at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2009

Makes an alien who is detained at the Department of Defense (DOD) detention facility at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, permanently ineligible for: (1) U.S. admission for any purpose, including refugee admission; and (2) parole into the United States or any other physical presence in the United States that is not regarded as an admission, including transfer for detention purposes.

Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009

United States · United States Congress · 23 February 2009

Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 for specified: (1) agricultural programs; (2) conservation programs; (3) rural development programs; (4) domestic food programs; (5) foreign assistance and related programs; and (6) related agency and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) purposes. Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 - Department of Commerce Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of Commerce, including transfers of funds. Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of Justice for various agencies and programs. Science Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to: (1) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), including the Office of Inspector General; and (3) the National Science Foundation (NSF), including the Office of the National Science Board and the Office of Inspector General. Makes appropriations for FY2009 to: (1) the Commission on Civil Rights; (2) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); (3) the International Trade Commission (ITC); (4) the Legal Services Corporation; (5) the Marine Mammal Commission; (6) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); and (7) the State Justice Institute. Rescinds certain unobligated balances. Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of Defense (DOD)-Civil, the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers-Civil, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Energy (DOE), and related agencies. Makes appropriations for FY2009 to: (1) the Appalachian Regional Commission; (2) the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board; (3) the Delta Regional Authority; (4) the Denali Commission; (5) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), including the Office of Inspector General; (6) the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board; and (7) the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects. Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2009 - Department of the Treasury Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of the Treasury, including transfers of funds. Rescinds certain unobligated balances. Executive Office of the President Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Executive Office of the President. Judiciary Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of Justice for the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts and related offices. District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the District of Columbia. Makes appropriations for FY2009, including transfers of funds, to: (1) the Administrative Conference of the United States; (2) the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation; (3) the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); (4) the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); (5) the Election Assistance Commission (EAC); (6) the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); (7) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), including the Office of Inspector General; (8) the Federal Election Commission (FEC); (9) the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA); (10) the Federal Trade Commission (FTC); (11) the General Services Administration (GSA), including the Office of Inspector General; (12) the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation Trust Fund; (13) the Merit Systems Protection Board; (14) the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation, including its Trust Fund; (15) the Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund; (16) the National Archives and Records Administration; (17) the National Historical Publications and Records Commission Grants Program; (18) the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA); (19) the Office of Government Ethics; (20) the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), including the Office of Inspector General; (21) the Office of Special Counsel; (22) the Postal Regulatory Commission; (23) the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board; (24) the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); (25) the Selective Service System; (26) the Small Business Administration (SBA), including the Office of Inspector General; (27) the U.S. Postal Service, including the Office of Inspector General; and (28) the United States Tax Court. Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other related agencies, including transfers of funds. Rescinds certain unobligated balances. Makes appropriations for FY2009 to: (1) the Departments of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services (HHS); (2) the National Institutes of Health (NIH); (3) the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; (4) the Executive Office of the President, Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality; (5) the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board; (6) the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation; (7) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development; (8) the Smithsonian Institution; (9) the National Gallery of Art; (10) the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; (11) the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; (12) the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities; (13) the National Endowment for the Arts; (14) the National Endowment for the Humanities; (15) the Commission of Fine Arts; (16) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (17) the National Capital Planning Commission; (18) the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; (19) the Presidio Trust Fund; and (20) the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 - Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of Labor, including transfers of funds. Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of Health and Human Services, including transfers of funds. Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of Education, including deferral and transfers of funds. Makes appropriations for FY2009 to: (1) the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled; (2) the Corporation for National and Community Service, for domestic volunteer service programs and operating expenses, administrative expenses and salaries, and the Office of Inspector General; (3) the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; (4) the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; (5) the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission; (6) the Institute of Museum and Library Services; (7) the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; (8) the National Council on Disability; (9) the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB); (10) the National Mediation Board; (11) the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission; (12) the Railroad Retirement Board for the dual benefits payments account, federal payments to the railroad retirement accounts, administration, and the Office of Inspector General; and (13) the Social Security Administration (SSA) for payments to the Social Security trust funds, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program, administrative expenses, and the Office of Inspector General. Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary), or the Secretary of State in consultation with the Secretary, to provide special immigrant status for an Afghan citizen or national (and accompanying or surviving spouse or child) who: (1) was employed for at least one year by, and provided documented valuable service to, the U.S. government in Afghanistan; and (2) is experiencing an ongoing threat as a result of such service. Authorizes the Secretary to adjust such an alien's status to permanent resident if the alien: (1) was paroled or admitted as a nonimmigrant into the United States; and (2) is otherwise eligible for special immigrant status. Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the legislative branch, including transfers of funds. Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of State for foreign operations and related programs, including transfers of funds. Makes appropriations for FY2009, including transfers of funds, to: (1) the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); (2) Global Health and Child Survival; (3) Development Assistance; (4) the Economic Support Fund; (5) the International Fund for Ireland; (6) assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia; (7) the Department of State; (8) migration and refugee assistance; (9) the Peace Corps; (10) the Millennium Challenge Corporation; (11) the Inter-American Foundation; (12) the African Development Foundation; (13) the Department of the Treasury; (14) international security assistance; (15) multilateral assistance; (16) the Export-Import Bank of the United States; (17) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC); and (18) the Trade and Development Agency. Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 - Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of Transportation. Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Makes appropriations for FY2009 to: (1) the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board; (2) the Federal Maritime Commission; (3) the National Transportation Safety Board; (4) the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation; and (5) the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Rescinds certain unobligated balances. Makes additional appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the U.S. Secret Service. Specifies certain uses and limits on or prohibitions against the use of funds appropriated by this Act.

English Language Unity Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2009

English Language Unity Act of 2009 - Makes English the official language of the United States. Requires, subject to exceptions and rules of construction, that: (1) official functions of the United States be conducted in English; and (2) all naturalization ceremonies be conducted in English. Establishes a uniform English language rule for naturalization. Makes English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, presumptively consistent with the laws of the United States. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue for public notice and comment a proposed rule for uniform testing of English language ability of candidates for naturalization based upon the principles that: (1) all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the laws of the United States; and (2) any exceptions to this standard should be limited to extraordinary circumstances, such as asylum.

Expressing the sense of Congress that the United Nations should take immediate steps to improve the transparency and accountability of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in the Near East to ensure that it is not providing funding, employment, or other support to terrorists.

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2009

Urges the Secretary of State to take measures to certify that United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) operates in full compliance with the Foreign Assistance Act and that no American taxpayer dollars are being directed to terrorists or to further terrorist propaganda. Calls on UNRWA to improve the transparency of educational materials used in UNRWA-administered schools. Urges UNRWA to implement terrorist name recognition software and other screening procedures to help ensure that UNRWA staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries are neither terrorists nor affiliated with terrorist organizations.

International Women's Freedom Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2009

International Women's Freedom Act of 2009 - Establishes within the Department of State an Office of International Women's Rights to be headed by an Ambassador at Large for International Women's Rights. Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) establish a women's rights Internet site; and (2) maintain prisoner lists and issue briefs on women's rights concerns. Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to include instruction on the internationally recognized rights of women and the various aspects and manifestations of violations of women's rights in Foreign Service officer training. Establishes the United States Commission on International Women's Rights. (Terminates the Commission 12 years after the date of the initial appointment of its members.) Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to express the sense of Congress that there should be within the National Security Council (NSC) staff a Special Adviser to the President on International Women's Rights. Directs the President to take specified actions in response to women's rights violations, including actions in response to particularly severe rights violations. Provides for prohibition of economic, multilateral, military, and export assistance in instances of particularly severe women's rights violations. Provides for the promotion of women's rights. Provides for women's rights-related training with respect to refugee, asylum, and consular matters. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the inadmissibility of foreign government officials who have engaged in particularly severe women's rights violations. Expresses the sense of Congress that transnational corporations operating overseas should adopt codes of conduct upholding the rights of their female employees.

Iraqi Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement, and Security Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2009

Iraqi Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement, and Security Act of 2009 - Expresses the sense of Congress concerning Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons. Directs the Secretary of State, with respect to vulnerable populations in Iraq and with respect to countries containing a significant population of Iraqi refugees (including Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, and Egypt), to provide such countries or appropriate international organizations and nongovernmental organizations with specified humanitarian assistance. Directs the Secretary to make every effort to ensure that the humanitarian needs of vulnerable populations in Iraq and Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries are met. Authorizes appropriations: (1) for such humanitarian assistance; and (2) to Jordan for humanitarian assistance to Iraqi refugees and to provide the necessary infrastructure to support both the needs of Iraqi refugees and the Jordanian people. Requires that related fund monitoring mechanisms be established. Prohibits direct bilateral assistance to Syria. Increases FY2009-FY2011 refugee admission limitations for the purpose of admitting Iraqi citizens or nationals who became refugees on or after March 19, 2003. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary, by a specified date and subject to the availability of appropriations, to have increased by 100% the number of federal personnel in Iraq and in other appropriate countries who are conducting security reviews of Iraqi refugee applicants. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to work with the international community to provide: (1) financial assistance to vulnerable populations in Iraq and to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries; and (2) technical and financial assistance to international organizations in order to process refugees. Defines "vulnerable populations in Iraq."

United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2009

United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act of 2009 - Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to: (1) shifting the funding mechanism for the regular budget of the United Nations from an assessed to a voluntary basis; (2) reform of U.N. peacekeeping operations; and (3) Security Council expansion. Withholds nonvoluntary U.S. contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations: (1) unless the Secretary of State certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that 80% of the the total regular budget of the United Nations is apportioned on a voluntary basis; and (2) to a U.N. human rights treaty monitoring body or committee that was established by a convention or a covenant to which the United States is not party. Establishes the Office of the United States Inspector General for Contributions to the United Nations System. Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of a U.S. contribution to any U.N. entity unless the entity has provided the Inspector General with a transparency certification and is in compliance with such certification. Directs the Secretary to audit and report to the appropriate congressional committees respecting duplicative entities and efforts related to Israeli-Palestinian issues. Withholds funds for such entities until any report recommendations are implemented. Directs the President to use U.S. influence at the United Nations with respect to: (1) publication of all U.N. subsidiary bodies and their functions, budgets, staff, and contributions; (2) employee, agency, and funding financial disclosure; (3) waiver of immunity; (4) adoption of a definition of terrorism and a comprehensive convention on terrorism; (5) anti-Semitism at the United Nations; and (6) Israel's inclusion in the Western European and Others Group. Directs the President to use U.S. influence at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to: (1) establish an Office of Compliance in the Secretariat of the IAEA; and (2) prohibit Iran's access to nuclear material, technology, equipment, or assistance until the IAEA determines that Iran is providing full access to IAEA inspectors and has permanently ceased and dismantled all nuclear-enrichment and reprocessing activities. Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding U.N. reforms and personnel. Withholds annual U.S. contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) until certain conditions are certified, and then provides UNRWA with limited contributions. Withholds U.S. contributions to the United Nations Human Rights Council until the Secretary certifies to Congress that the Council does not include a member state: (1) subject to Security Council sanctions; (2) under a Security Council-mandated investigation for human rights abuses; (3) subject, within the prior five years, to a country-specific resolution passed by the former U.N. Human Rights Commission; (4) which the Secretary has determined is a government that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism; or (5) which the President has designated as a country of particular concern for religious freedom.

International Women's Freedom Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2009

International Women's Freedom Act of 2009 - Establishes within the Department of State an Office of International Women's Rights to be headed by an Ambassador at Large for International Women's Rights. Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) establish a women's rights Internet site; and (2) maintain prisoner lists and issue briefs on women's rights concerns. Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to include instruction on the internationally recognized rights of women and the various aspects and manifestations of violations of women's rights in Foreign Service officer training. Establishes the United States Commission on International Women's Rights. (Terminates the Commission 12 years after the date of the initial appointment of its members.) Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to express the sense of Congress that there should be within the National Security Council (NSC) staff a Special Adviser to the President on International Women's Rights. Directs the President to take specified actions in response to women's rights violations, including actions in response to particularly severe rights violations. Provides for prohibition of economic, multilateral, military, and export assistance in instances of particularly severe women's rights violations. Provides for the promotion of women's rights. Provides for women's rights-related training with respect to refugee, asylum, and consular matters. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the inadmissibility of foreign government officials who have engaged in particularly severe women's rights violations. Expresses the sense of Congress that transnational corporations operating overseas should adopt codes of conduct upholding the rights of their female employees.

Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act of 2009

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2009

Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act of 2009 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to provide increased protections and eligibility for family-sponsored immigrants. Directs the Secretary of State to establish a Board of Family-based Visa Appeals within the Department of State. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to deny a family-based immigration petition by a U.S. petitioner for an alien spouse or child if: (1) the petitioner is on the national sex offender registry for a conviction that resulted in more than one year's imprisonment; (2) the petitioner has failed to rebut such information within 90 days; and (3) granting the petition would put a spouse or child beneficiary in danger of sexual abuse. Directs the Secretary to establish the Task Force to Rescue Immigrant Victims of American Sex Offenders. Authorizes the Secretary to adjust the status of aliens who would otherwise be inadmissible (due to unlawful presence, document fraud, or other specified grounds of inadmissibility) if such aliens have been in the United States for at least five years and meet other requirements. Authorizes the emergency deployment of Border Patrol agents to a requesting border state. Sets forth provisions for Border Patrol acquisition and use of specified equipment. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide for additional detention space for illegal aliens; (2) increase Border Patrol agents, airport and land border immigration inspectors, immigration enforcement officers, and fraud and document fraud investigators; (3) enhance Border Patrol training and operational facilities; (4) establish immigration, customs, and agriculture inspector occupations within the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection; (5) reestablish the Border Patrol anti-smuggling unit; (6) establish criminal investigator occupations within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); (7) increase Border Patrol agent and investigator pay; (8) require foreign language training for appropriate DHS employees; and (9) establish the Fraudulent Documents Task Force. Redefines the term "law enforcement officer" under provisions of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to include: (1) federal employees not otherwise covered by such term whose duties include the investigation or apprehension of suspected or convicted individuals and who are authorized to carry a firearm; and (2) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees whose duties are primarily the collection of delinquent taxes and the securing of delinquent returns. Authorizes S (witness or informant) nonimmigrant status for aliens in possession of critical reliable information concerning commercial alien smuggling or trafficking in immigration documents. Establishes a reward program to assist in eliminating immigration-related commercial document fraud operations. Sets forth unfair immigration-related employment practices. Requires petitioners for nonimmigrant labor to describe their efforts to recruit lawful permanent residents or U.S. citizens. Makes permanent an INA provision allowing adjustment of status of certain aliens for whom family-sponsored or employment-based applications or petitions were filed by a specified date. Lessens immigration consequences for minor criminal offenses. Eliminates retroactive changes in grounds of inadmissibility and removal. Amends criminal offense removal-related provisions. Increases the worldwide level of diversity immigrants. Authorizes adjustment of status for certain nationals or citizens of Haiti. Eliminates mandatory detention in expedited removal proceedings. Amends the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 to: (1) waive document fraud as a ground of inadmissibility; and (2) address determinations with respect to children. Eliminates the one-year filing requirement for asylum applicants. Includes gender persecution within the particular social group category of persecution. Provides for the permanent resident status adjustment of certain temporary protected status persons. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to eliminate a provision prohibiting restrictions on the communication of immigration status information by a government entity. Replaces the existing fashion model H-1B visa classification with an O-visa classification.

To increase global stability and security for the United States and the international community by reducing the number of individuals who are de jure or de facto stateless and at risk of being trafficked.

United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009

States that: (1) it shall be U.S. policy that the President and the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations work with the international community to increase political and financial support for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to prevent and resolve problems related to de jure and de facto statelessness and to promote the rights of de jure or de facto stateless persons; (2) the President shall make prevention and reduction of de jure or de facto statelessness an important goal of U.S. foreign policy and human rights efforts; and (3) it shall be U.S. policy to comply with the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Directs the Secretary of State to increase staff and resources in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration to work toward the prevention and resolution of de jure and de facto statelessness and the protection of de jure or de facto stateless persons.