Speech #1140073098

Assad continues to use chlorine bombs indiscriminately to kill his own people. and ISIS executes anyone who is not considered loyal. It is no wonder the Syrian people want out. Yet. with the mass exodus of refugees come other security concerns. including the threat of ISIS infiltrating the refugee population. Senior and U.S. law enforcement and intelligence officials have made it clear they are concerned that we dont have the ability to adequately vet Syrian refugees. As we know from reports. at least one of the terrorists responsible for the deadly attacks in Paris passed through a refugee processing checkpoint in Greece. To quote the Director of National Intelligence. James Clapper. "I dont . . . put it past the likes of ISIL to infiltrate operatives among those refugees . * thats a huge concern of ours." The American SAFE Act helps address this concern by requiring the FBI. the Department of Homeland Security. and the Director of National Intelligence to certify that Syrian and Iraqi refugees have been thoroughly vetted and do not pose a security risk before they are allowed to enter the country. This is a reasonable request. and if the administration wants to assure the American people that these refugees are not a threat. then it should have no problem providing such certifications. I plan to file an amendment to this bill that would also give more authority to individual States when it comes to the resettlement of refugees. Last year. many Governors expressed a desire. shared by their constituents. that Syrian refugees not be resettled in their States. My amendment would grant Governors a presence at weekly refugee resettlement meetings within the State Department and give those Governors veto power over the resettlement of certain refugees in their States. Under my amendment. if a Governors office is not satisfied that its security concerns have been addressed by the required security checks. the Governor can veto the resettlement question. Any refugee. once admitted to the United States. would still be free to travel from State to State as he or she pleased. This amendment would simply increase States rights by giving Governors a say in any decisions by the Federal Government to resettle large populations of refugees in their States. This is a reasonable solution to the concerns that were raised by the Governors of over 30 States. and I hope we can have a vote on this amendment. Over the weekend. the world witnessed another byproduct of President Obamas failing foreign policy.