Fleischmann Touts Anti-Terrorism Bill

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said Friday he is pleased his anti-terrorism bill is moving forward as part of a package of bills designed to combat terrorism.

"I couldn't be more thankful," the congressman told The Advocate & Democrat Friday morning.

The House vote Thursday night on HR 5471, the Countering Terrorist Radicalization Act, was 402-15 showing very broad bi-partisan support. Fleischmann's bill, HR 4820, was one of the three bills included in HR 5471. The congressman said his bill, would require the Department of Homeland Security Secretary to use former violent extremists or their associates in order to counter terrorist recruitment. Fleischmann believes finding former terror group members who are willing to speak against groups like ISIS can combat terror growth.

When five servicemen were killed by a radical Islamic terrorist in Chattanooga last summer, the tragedy struck home to Fleischmann who lives in Hamilton County.

"It was probably one of the worst days of my life," he said.

Because the three anti-terrorism bills are bundled together, Fleischmann believes they stand a better chance of quickly moving through the Senate and making their way to President Barack Obama's desk.

"The Orlando terrorist attack is another tragic example of Islamic extremism," Fleischmann said. "They are hurting and killing Americans we've got to take the fight to ISIS. My bill is a tool in our arsenal to battle radicalization here at home."

A terrorist who pledged support to ISIS shot and killed 49 patrons and wounded more than 50 others in an Orlando, Fla., night club June 12 calling even more attention to the apparent growing threat of terror at home.

Fleischmann repeated a constant theme he has stressed.

"It's time to be correct, not politically correct," he said.

The same day Fleischmann's legislation moved forward the director of the CIA issued a stern and less than glowing assessment on the state of the war against terror in contrast to the assessments from the Obama Administration.

The U.S. battle against ISIS has not yet curbed the terror group's global reach and as pressure mounts on the extremists in Iraq and Syria, they are expected to plot more attacks on the West and incite violence by lone wolf terrorist, CIA Director John Brennan told Congress on Thursday, according to published reports.

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