; Whereas, at this pace, the United States may only admit approximately 20,000 refugees this year; Whereas refugees are the most vetted travelers to enter the United States and are subject to extensive screening checks, including in-person interviews, biometric data checks, and multiple interagency checks; Whereas refugees contribute to local economies in the United States, pay an average of $21,000 more in taxes than they receive in benefits, revitalize cities and towns by offsetting population decline, and boost economic growth throughout the United States by opening businesses, paying taxes, and buying homes; Whereas several industries rely heavily on refugee workers to support economic stability, and low rates of refugee arrival has impacted economic growth, especially in towns that rely on refugee populations to revitalize their industries; Whereas the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is projected to produce nearly 1,000,000 refugees in neighboring countries in 2018; Whereas the escalating crisis in Venezuela has forced 1,500,000 refugees to seek safety in neighboring countries and beyond since 2014; Whereas refugee children are 5 times more likely not to be in school than non-refugee children; Whereas refugee women and children are often at greater risk of violence, human trafficking, exploitation, and gender-based violence; and Whereas the United States resettlement program is a life-saving solution critical to global humanitarian efforts, which strengthens global security, advances United States foreign policy goals, and alleviates the burden placed on front-line host countries: Now, therefore, be it