Date: 2015-06-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I am delighted. and I will finish up. I thank the chairman and ranking member. The amendment deals with countering violent extremism. I look forward to working on this issue. Mr. Chair. I want to thank Chairman FRELINGHUYSEN and Ranking Member VisCLOSKY for shepherding this legislation to the floor and for their devotion to the security of our country and the world. Mr. Chair. thank you for the opportunity to explain my amendment. which is simple and straightforward: SEC. . Nothing in this Act shall be construed to contravene the authority of the President under article II. section 2 of the Constitution. The purpose of Jackson Lee Amendment 177 is to affirm the Presidents authority under the Constitution. Countering violent extremism and preventing the recruitment of American youth into violent extremism and preventing them from becoming foreign fighters for dangerous groups such as ISIL and other radical groups around the globe is a national imperative. Earlier this year. I introduced the "No Fly For Foreign Fighters Act." legislation that will help keep foreign fighters and terrorists out of our country. In introducing this legislation. I was particularly concerned about terrorist groups recruiting our youth. In fact. I was part of a special roundtable along with DHS Secretary Johnson. in Houston. Texas on "Youth Engagement and Countering Violent Extremism". During the discussion. Secretary Johnson and I addressed the importance of community engagement in preventing the recruitment of young Americans into terrorist groups. The Jackson Lee Amendment will help to prevent the recruitment of American youth as foreign fighters. a phenomenon that is unfortunately already taking root. In March 2009. twohundred schoolchildren in Britain (some as young as thirteen) had been identified and reported by community membersincluding parents. imams. and teachersas being at risk of extremism or of being "groomed by radicalisers." At least six boys between the ages of 13 and 16 were captured by U.S. Forces in Afghanistan in the initial fighting there. In Iraq. U.S. forces detained more than 100 juveniles in the first year following the invasion. and more than 600 to date. In the last few years a number of SomaliAmerican young men have traveled to Somalia. possibly to train and fight with alShabaab. At least one of these young men was killed during a suicide bombing attack in northern Somalia in October 2008. which is the first known instance of a U.S. citizen participating in a suicide attack. Moreover. over 140 United States persons have traveled to Syria or Iraq to fight alongside ISIL. the Nusra Front. and other terrorist organizations. Although there are no known instances of a U.S. person attempting to return from the region after participating in conflict. we must be vigilant against this prospect. The Jackson Lee Amendment 177. seeks to protect youth and combat the actions of terrorist groups like Boko Haram and others who are using social media to bring them to their side. The Jackson Lee Amendment is important because data shows that individuals recruited as foreign fighters from nations in Africa. Europe. and the Middle East have crossed borders and wreaked havoc and committed terroristic acts including kidnapping of youth similar to what Boko Haram has done. Mr. Chair. the United States is committed to protecting our youth. preventing and combating violent extremism. protecting our borders and the globe from the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism. The Jackson Lee Amendment will do just that. Jackson Lee Amendment 177 prevents terrorism by ascertaining that American youth are not seduced into becoming terrorists. The Jackson Lee Amendment promotes the United States militarys unparalleled expertise and technological capability to combat and defeat terrorists who hate our country and prey upon our children. innocent persons. women and the elderly across the globe. Al Qaeda. Boko Haram. Al Shabaab. ISIS/ ISIL and other militant terrorists. including the Sinais Ansar Beit alMaqdis in the Sinai Peninsula are all global and national security threats that must be stopped. The Jackson Lee Amendment will support the Department of Defenses efforts to prevent the recruitment of American youth into terrorism and the recovery of the still missing Chibok girls from Nigeria. I urge my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee Amendment. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas .