Speech #1140064215

I rise in opposition to HR. 4038. In the aftermath of last weeks barbaric ISIL terrorist attack in Paris the Republican leadership of the U.S. House has decided that the best way to protect the security of the American people is to attack Syrian and Iraqi refugees. These are the innocent and vulnerable children. parents. and elders who are seeking protection from murderous armies. terrorist groups. and death squads. The perpetrators of the Paris attack were ISIL radicals with European citizenship. not refugees. As many as 3.000 European extremists have traveled to Syria to join the ranks of ISIL. In fact. the ISIL mastermind behind the Paris attack who was killed by French authorities. Abdelhamid Abaaoud. was a Belgian citizen. not a refugee from Syria or Iraq. Meanwhile. the U.S. visa waiver program allows unrestricted access to the U.S. from the European Union which is an open door for European extremists not on a watch list to enter our country. In my view. this is where the real reform and intelligence sharing must be strengthened. The American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act (HR. 4038) is a Republican ploy that is cruel. callous. and a blatant display of xenophobia used to energize a political base that is motivated by a hatred of immigrants. This legislation is not designed to protect our national security interests. but rather will be used as a political weapon to attack Democrats who still believe our nation should be a safe haven for vulnerable people seeking freedom from persecution and the threat of death. I support resettling refugees in the U.S. and I have always welcomed them to Minnesota. The most modem identification technology and intelligence background checks need to be utilized in the resettlement security process. That means this Republican Congress must act responsibly and provide the necessary funding for such a comprehensive screening protocol.