Posted on 11/19/2015 1:43:52 PM PST by afraidfortherepublic
The House of Representatives Thursday defied President Obama’s threat of a veto and voted, 289-137, to impose new screening requirements on Syrian and Iraqi refugees trying to enter the United States.
The bill was supported by 47 Democrats. Only two Republicans opposed it. The House plan would bar any refugees from Syria or Iraq from entering the United States until the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Director of National Intelligence certify that each one is not dangerous.
“If our law enforcement and our intelligence community cannot verify that each and every person is not a security threat, then they shouldn’t be allowed in,†said Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
“The status quo is not acceptable,†said House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas. “The American people want us to act in light of what’s happened.â€
Other lawmakers agreed.
“I cannot sit back and ignore the concerns of my constituents and the American public,†said Rep. Brad Ashford, D-Neb.
“It is against the values of our nation and the values of a free society to give terrorists the opening they are looking for,†said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
The bill comes after Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 129 people. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks. At least one attacker posed as a Syrian refugee, officials have disclosed. These events created new opposition to Obama’s plan to bring 10,000 Syrian refugees to the United States.
Despite its passage, the bill on Thursday lacked enough votes to override a presidential veto. Republican aides said that absences could change that picture if an override vote becomes necessary.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid doesn’t plan to let that happen.
“The problem is not with refugees,†Reid said. “I don’t think we’ll be dealing with it over here.â€
When asked about a presidential veto and a potential override, Reid said, “don’t worry, it won’t get passed. Next question?â€
If the bill is blocked in the Senate, House Republicans may force the issue through an omnibus government spending bill, which has to be passed by Dec. 11 to keep the government operating.
Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., said he would vote against a spending bill that doesn’t contain provisions halting the refugee program.
“I think that we have to exert maximum leverage,†Salmon said.
h/t: The Hill
Unless all funding is pulled, this is strictly symbolic.
Paul Ryan dosn’t look so foolish now!
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
Did you read the whole article?
Navideh Forghani
✔
@NavidehABC15
6 Middle Eastern men caught along #Arizona’s #border. Details on their nationality and who they were with coming up at 5 and 6 on #abc15
3:25 PM - 19 Nov 2015
If they have to tie it to funding and shut the govt down then do it. 69% of the public does not want the refugees they will side with the Republicans this time.
Is there a list of those that voted in favor of this bill. I live in a left state and I think that my rep voted in favor. I would like to give credit where credit it due and give a positive phone call to her office.
Now let’s see what the vindictive, narcissistic, graceless, classless, divisive, petulant, and childish President will say / do.
Who were the two Republicans? List the 47 Democrats, please. We need to know who are the people protecting this country, not just following OBAMA.
A BILL
To require that supplemental certifications and background investigations be completed prior to the admission of certain aliens as refugees, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015’ or as the `American SAFE Act of 2015’.
SEC. 2. REVIEW OF REFUGEES TO IDENTIFY SECURITY THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES.
(a) Background Investigation- In addition to the screening conducted by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall take all actions necessary to ensure that each covered alien receives a thorough background investigation prior to admission as a refugee. A covered alien may not be admitted as a refugee until the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation certifies to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence that each covered alien has received a background investigation that is sufficient to determine whether the covered alien is a threat to the security of the United States.
(b) Certification by Unanimous Concurrence- A covered alien may only be admitted to the United States after the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the unanimous concurrence of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Director of National Intelligence, certifies to the appropriate Congressional Committees that the covered alien is not a threat to the security of the United States.
(c) Inspector General Review of Certifications- The Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security shall conduct a risk-based review of all certifications made under subsection (b) each year and shall provide an annual report detailing the findings to the appropriate Congressional Committees.
(d) Monthly Report- The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the appropriate Congressional Committees a monthly report on the total number of applications for admission with regard to which a certification under subsection (b) was made and the number of covered aliens with regard to whom such a certification was not made for the month preceding the date of the report. The report shall include, for each covered alien with regard to whom a certification was not made, the concurrence or nonconcurrence of each person whose concurrence was required by subsection (b).
(e) Definitions- In this Act:
(1) COVERED ALIEN- The term `covered alien’ means any alien applying for admission to the United States as a refugee who—
(A) is a national or resident of Iraq or Syria;
(B) has no nationality and whose last habitual residence was in Iraq or Syria; or
(C) has been present in Iraq or Syria at any time on or after March 1, 2011.
(2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE- The term `appropriate Congressional Committees’ means—
(A) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(E) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(F) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(G) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives;
(H) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives;
(I) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives;
(J) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives;
(K) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
(L) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
I agree with you! This does nothing but give ob1 the green light!
The screening requirement I want to see, is that there are NO “refugees”/migrants coming in from Syria...until ISIS is no longer a threat in the world.
Yep meaningless. There are only two things you can do that have meaning, impeach and remove, or defund. The House wimps won’t do either.
290 is veto proof
Yep. No person of Arab descent, period. And even that is no guarantee. We should be imposing a moratorium on ALL immigration indefinitely.
Show me where it stops him? This just gives him authority to do it.
“bar any refugees from Syria or Iraq from entering the United States until the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Director of National Intelligence certify that each one is not dangerous.”
And just how are they going to do that?
“Are you or have you ever been a terrorist?”
“No.”
“Ok, free to go...next...”
Exactly. We are at war here and immigration is the absolute LAST thing we should be doing, it’s just absolutely lunacy. We don’t owe these people ANYTHING.
Yep - they only have 289 “aye” votes on the bill. If Resident 0bama veto’s, some number of the 47 Dems will jump ship.
Not going anywhere if vetoed.
FUBO from the House!
Kabuki theater. Ryan does as he is told.
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