To express the sense of the Senate concerning the conflict-induced Afghan refugee situation.

SA 3022. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 3254, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 405, line 4, strike “Section” and insert the following:

(a) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that--

(1) the Senate is deeply concerned with the dramatic rise in conflict-induced displacement in Afghanistan and the corresponding increase in humanitarian need, especially as winter approaches;

(2) there have been several reports of children freezing to death in various refugee settlements in Afghanistan during the winter of 2011-12;

(3) the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State and the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan should jointly develop a comprehensive strategy to address the displacement and human suffering referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2), which shall include--

(A) an assessment of the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan--

(i) to prevent, mitigate, and respond to forced displacement; and

(ii) to provide durable solutions for internally displaced Afghans and Afghan refugees; and

(B) a coherent plan to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan to address the causes and consequences of displacement within Afghanistan.

(b) Extension of Authority.--Section