H.Res.1290: Joining the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in observance of World Refugee Day and calling on the United States Government, international organizations, and aid groups to take immediate steps to secure urgently needed humanitarian relief for the more than 2,000,000 people displaced by genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 20, 2008

Reaffirms the historic commitment of the United States as a nation founded by refugees.

Calls on: (1) the Department of State to support the refugee assistance efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and of nongovernmental organizations; (2) the U.S. government to continue its international leadership role in response to the people of the Darfur region of Sudan who have been displaced by Sudan's genocide; and (3) the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to facilitate the resettlement of an appropriate number of Darfuris.

Urges the parties to the conflicts in and between Chad and Sudan to conclude a cessation of hostilities agreement.

Calls upon the Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur to ensure that displaced persons are fairly represented in peace negotiations.

Affirms the goals of World Refugee Day and reiterates a strong commitment to protecting the millions of refugees who live without material, social, and legal protections.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28] · D–CA

Committees

Foreign Affairs Committee

68 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 20, 2008
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Jun 20, 2008
Introduced in House
Jun 20, 2008
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jun 20, 2008 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Res.1290 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.1290, 110th Congress: Joining the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in observance of World Refugee Day and calling on the United States Government, international organizations, and aid groups to take immediate steps to secure urgently needed humanitarian relief for the more than 2,000,000 people displaced by genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-resolution/1290

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2008-06-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/110/bills/hres1290/BILLS-110hres1290ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:25:10Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.Res.1290 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Res.1290 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.1290, 110th Congress: Joining the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in observance of World Refugee Day and calling on the United States Government, international organizations, and aid groups to take immediate steps to secure urgently needed humanitarian relief for the more than 2,000,000 people displaced by genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-resolution/1290

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2008-06-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/110/bills/hres1290/BILLS-110hres1290ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:25:10Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.1290 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Res.1290 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.1290, 110th Congress: Joining the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in observance of World Refugee Day and calling on the United States Government, international organizations, and aid groups to take immediate steps to secure urgently needed humanitarian relief for the more than 2,000,000 people displaced by genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-resolution/1290

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2008-06-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/110/bills/hres1290/BILLS-110hres1290ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:25:10Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.1290 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Res.1290 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.1290, 110th Congress: Joining the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in observance of World Refugee Day and calling on the United States Government, international organizations, and aid groups to take immediate steps to secure urgently needed humanitarian relief for the more than 2,000,000 people displaced by genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-resolution/1290

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2008-06-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/110/bills/hres1290/BILLS-110hres1290ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:25:10Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.1290 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.