Speech #1140083093

The 9111 Commission states in their report to the Congress on recommendations: "The U.S. Government cannot meet its own obligations to the American people to prevent the entry of terrorists without a major effort to collaborate with other governments. We should do more to exchange terrorist information with trusted allies. and raise U.S. and global border security standards for travel and for border crossing over the medium and long term through extensive international cooperation." This bill does that. It adds another component. and that is as it relates to the collateral benefit. which will come through trying to prevent infectious diseases borne by these exotic vectors. like these mosquitoes that bring the Zika virus or like Ebola. So this bill. H.R. 4314. increases collaboration with our allies through improved information sharing. tightened border security screening methods overseas. and the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security are required to accelerate the delivery of certain border security systems and prioritizing delivery to countries deemed to be at high or medium risk for foreign fighter or terrorist travel. It also establishes minimum border security standards. The Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security are required to submit an annual report to us in Congress detailing how countries are meeting the minimum border security standards established there. The annual report will not only assess partner country efforts over the previous 12 months. but it is also going to identify those areas that are most necessary for improvement. Countries that dont meet border security standards could have their nonhumanitarian. nontraderelated U.S. assistance suspended. cut off. Suspension of assistance is meant to ensure that countries take the necessary steps to improve their border security. I again want to thank Mr. ZELDIN and other members of the Committee on Homeland Securitys bipartisan Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel and all the bipartisan cosponsors for their support for this bill. which deserves our unanimous support.