Van Hollen, Senators Urge Release of Full Department of Health and Human Services Study Examining Economic Impact of Admitting Refugees to the United States

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and a group of eight senators have urged the release of the full Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) study examining the economic impact of admitting refugees to the United States. The New York Times reported that the study found that refugees "contributed an estimated $269.1 billion in revenues to all levels of government" between 2005 and 2014 through the payment of federal, state, and local taxes. According to the news report, a White House official sought to suppress these findings, saying that the study "shows that refugees...are not a net benefit to the U.S. economy." In a letter, Klobuchar and the other senators urge HHS Secretary Tom Price to release the full, unedited version of the study at issue.

"We are troubled by the focus in this statement and in the March 2017 Presidential Memorandum only on the costs and not the benefits of refugees. This presents a deceptive and incomplete picture of the clearly positive net effect to the U.S. economy of admitting refugees," the Senators wrote. "Any government study of refugees - especially one that will directly inform refugee admissions levels in coming years - should employ a more complete and transparent methodology."

The Senators continued, "We urge you to release the full, unedited version of the study at issue. The public deserves an open and evidence-based debate about the economic impact of admitting refugees to the United States."

In addition to Van Hollen, the letter was signed by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

The full text of the senators' letter is below.

Dear Secretary Price:

We write to inquire about a study conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services examining the economic impact of admitting refugees to the United States, particularly recent reports that the White House sought to manipulate or withhold its findings.

News reports indicate that the study concluded that, on balance, refugees have made significant contributions to our country. Specifically, The New York Times reported that the study found that refugees "contributed an estimated $269.1 billion in revenues to all levels of government" between 2005 and 2014 through the payment of federal, state, and local taxes. This exceeds estimated government expenditures for refugees over the same period by $63 billion.[1] Yet, according to the New York Times story, a White House official sought to suppress these findings, saying that the study "shows that refugees... are not a net benefit to the U.S. economy."

We are troubled by the focus in this statement and in the March 2017 Presidential Memorandum only on the costs and not the benefits of refugees. This presents a deceptive and incomplete picture of the clearly positive net effect to the U.S. economy of admitting refugees. Any government study of refugees - especially one that will directly inform refugee admissions levels in coming years - should employ a more complete and transparent methodology.

We urge you to release the full, unedited version of the study at issue. The public deserves an open and evidence-based debate about the economic impact of admitting refugees to the United States.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

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