Cramer: Senate Fails to Protect the American People

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer today called on the U.S. Senate to fulfill its obligation to protect the American public from terrorists after Senate Democrats filibustered H.R. 4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act of 2015. The bill prohibits the entry of refugees from Iraq and Syria into the United States unless the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) certifies to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) the refugee has undergone a background investigation sufficient to determine if they would pose a threat to our nation. In addition, the bill requires the DHS Secretary, FBI Director, and DNI to certify to Congress each refugee is not a security threat prior to his or her admission to the United States. Cramer is a co-sponsor of the legislation.

"Protecting the American people from the Islamic state and radical Islamic terrorism is not a partisan issue. The House passed the SAFE Act in November with a bi-partisan veto proof majority," said Cramer. "The recent attacks in San Bernardino show our country is vulnerable to terrorist attacks and the Senate Democrats decision to filibuster this bill threatens the safety of every American."

The threat of ISIS and Islamic terrorism strikes home even in North Dakota. Early this year, ISIS online postings specifically threatened military personnel stationed in Minot.

H.R. 4038 also requires the DHS Inspector General to conduct a risk-based review of all certifications for admission of Iraqi or Syrian refugees made by DHS, FBI, and DNI each year and provide an annual report to Congress detailing its findings. The bill further requires the DHS Secretary to provide a monthly report to Congress on the total number of applications for admission of Iraqi and Syrian refugees for which certifications were made and the total number for whom a certification was not made, including the concurrence or non-concurrence of each required official.

A covered alien is defined in the bill as a refugee who is a national or resident of Iraq or Syria, has no nationality and whose last habitual residence was in Iraq or Syria, or who has been present in one of those countries at any time on or after March 1, 2011.

Cramer has long been an advocate for reforming the nation's refugee admission program. He is a co-sponsor of H.R. 3573, the Refugee Resettlement Oversight and Security Act. This bill gives Congress the authority to approve the President's yearly refugee plans and adds additional security screening and involvement of the FBI and other intelligence agencies in the screening of refugees requesting admission into the United States.

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