Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Recognizes World Refugee Day on Capitol Hill

Congresswoman Johnson and author Khaled Hosseini spoke to the crowd about the plight of refugees worldwide

Washington, DC – (Thursday, June 20, 2013) –  Today, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),  hosted an event in honor of World Refugee Day.  The event featured international best-selling author and UNHCR Goodwill Envoy Khaled Hosseini, and Anne Richard, the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

“We can talk about Syria, the Congo, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and many other countries that have to deal with war,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “So it’s very important that we always pause and remember the refugees that have joined our country seeking safety and peace.”

World Refugee Day was established by the United Nations in order to maintain and intensify ongoing efforts to resolve world conflicts and promote peace and security so that refugees can safely return home to their families.

UNHCR Goodwill Envoy Hosseini thanked everyone for their ongoing commitment to Afghanistan and said, “It’s my dream that Afghanistan will become a viable self-sustained free country free from violence and from upheaval, and where women are educated and rising in the ranks in both business and politics.”

With over 43 million displaced refugees, UNHCR and other worldwide humanitarian organizations identify and help meet basic and life-sustaining needs.

Assistant Secretary of State Anne Richard said, “I want to thank all of you, and especially our Members of Congress and staff, for the role you play in appropriating funding that helps us save lives overseas and bring refugees to the United States to restart their lives.”

The event was attended by Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee Eliot Engel, Capitol Hill staffers, and members of non-governmental organizations.

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  U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a Ranking member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Kessler Park, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, South Dallas & South Oak Cliff; all of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Ferris, Glenn Heights, South Grand Prairie, Oak Lawn, Ovilla, Uptown/Victory Park and West Dallas.