As Syrian Refugee Crisis Grows, Shaheen Leads Senate Resolution Calling for International Cooperation

(Washington, DC) – As the Syrian Refugee crisis continues to grow in Europe and the Middle East, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the lead Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations European Affairs Subcommittee, introduced a Senate Resolution recognizing the significant challenges faced by countries in the region and the need to address the conflict in Syria as the primary driver of this refugee crisis. The resolution, which is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tom Udall (D-NM) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), offers support for steps the European Union and United States have announced to aid Syrians fleeing violence, but also recognizes the significant work that remains.  

“The migrant crisis is becoming an increasingly desperate situation for those fleeing horrific violence in Syria,” said Shaheen. “This resolution would affirm the Senate’s resolve to aid the growing number of Syrian refugees and minority groups who have been forced from their homes.”

Last week, Shaheen called a meeting of Senators, European Ambassadors and senior diplomats to discuss the refugee and migration crisis in Europe, with specific attention paid to the recent surge in Syrian refugees. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that are now nearly 8 million internally displaced Syrians and another 4 million Syrian refugees.

In May, Senator Shaheen signed a letter to President Obama requesting that his administration accept more Syrian refugees and encourage other countries to do likewise. Recently, the administration announced that the United States would increase the number of Syrian refugees admitted to the United States this coming year to 10,000 and the overall number of international refugees to 85,000 in 2016 and 100,000 in 2017.

The text of the resolution can be read here.