Deadline for A Strategy to Combat Islamic Extremism

Floor Speech

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Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, last week the Obama administration failed to meet a congressionally mandated deadline to submit a strategy to combat Islamic terrorism.

To comply with the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, President Obama was required to submit to Congress a comprehensive strategy to defeat ISIS by Monday, February 15, 2016. That was over a week ago. We still have not received his strategy. Confronting this threat is of utmost importance to the safety and security of the United States and our allies.

While there is an absence of leadership from our Commander in Chief, the House has taken several steps to keep America safe from terrorism. We passed the Visa Waiver Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act to help prevent foreign terrorists from entering the United States. We also passed the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act, a bill to pause the government's Syrian refugee program.

Just yesterday the House passed two additional measures to ensure our Federal agencies are working to disrupt the travel of terrorists and those seeking help from terrorists.

The House alone cannot keep America safe. We need action from this administration, and submitting an incomplete plan to remove dangerous terrorists to the United States from Guantanamo Bay doesn't count. It just threatens our security more. ISIS is a very grave threat that is clearly not contained.

Today I urge the President to comply with the National Defense Authorization Act and submit a plan to Congress.

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