Recent History of Migration and Refugee Spending

• Cut by almost 20% between 1995 and 2000 (in real dollar terms), while other State Department spending by about 20% before inflation.
  
  
• FY 2001 funding of $42 million above the President's request did not make up for impact of prior cuts and inflation.
  
  
• Funds were drawn down from the Emergency Refugee and Migrant Assistance (ERMA) account last year to address crises in the Congo, Middle East, and Guinea.

More funds needed

• Existing funds are inadequate:
  
  
  • to deal with new refugee flows in West Africa, the Great Lakes region of Africa, Pakistan, and other places.
    
    
  • to address Intractable refugee situations in Thailand, Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Balkans
    
    
  • to admit an appropriate number of refugees into the United States for resettlement.
  
  
• ERMA account needs replenishing for funds drawn down last year.

Appropriations Requests for the Future (Migration and Refugee Assistance)

• $800 million for MRA account
  
  
• $50 million for ERMA account

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