Date: 2016-02-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 4402 the "Foreign Fighter Review Act of 2016." which requires the president. acting through the Homeland Security Secretary. to initiate a review of known instances since 2011 in which a person has traveled or attempted to travel from the United States to a conflict zone in Iraq or Syria to join or provide material support or resources to a terrorist organization. As a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime. Terrorism. Homeland Security and Investigations. I take seriously threats to the security of the homeland and our responsibility to put in place adequate measures to defeat them. That is why in the first session of this Congress I introduced H.R. 48 "No Fly for Foreign Fighters Act." which reviews the completeness of the Terrorist Screening Database and the terrorist watch list utilized by the Transportation Security Administration. I support H.R. 4402 because it would evaluate any flaws in existing programs or procedures that aim to prevent such travel and identify ways to improve their effectiveness. Since 2011. more than 30.000 foreign fighters from over 100 different countries have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight for ISIL. In the last 18 months. the number of foreign fighters traveling to Syria and Iraq has more than doubled. In the first six months of 2015. more than 7.000 foreign fighters have arrived in Syria and Iraq. According to a report issued last year by the Committee on Homeland Securitys Foreign Fighter Task Force. U.S. officials apprehended less than 20 percent (28/250) of Americans who sought to travel to the region. The report also found that while information sharing had improved. there is currently no comprehensive global database of foreign fighters. It is estimated that at 250 persons who have traveled to Syria or Iraq to join ISIS hold American citizenship. Since these persons who identify with the terrorist aims of ISIS can leave and enter the United States. it is critically important that American customs and security officials have the most accurate and effective terrorist screening tools available. H.R. 4402 helps address this problem by identifying areas for improvement to prevent additional travel by "Foreign Fighters" to conflict zones in areas such as Iraq. Syria. or other terrorist safe havens abroad. to join or provide material support or resources to a terrorist organization. Specifically. H.R. 4402 directs the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a review and report to the Congress on the following: 1. Relevant unclassified and classified information held by the U.S. government related to each instance: 2. The factors including operational issues. security vulnerabilities and systemic challenges that may have undermined efforts to prevent the travel of such persons to a conflict zone in Iraq or Syria. including the timely identification of suspects. information sharing. intervention and interdiction. 3. The lessons learned and areas for improvement to prevent additional travel by such persons to conflict zones or other terrorist safe havens. The bill also requires the President to direct the heads of relevant federal agencies to provide to the Homeland Security Secretary the information needed to complete the review. which is due within 120 days of enactment. Mr. Speaker. it is encouraging that progress has been made in preventing individuals inspired by the Islamic State and other Islamic extremist groups to either travel to Syria and Iraq or carry out attacks on U.S. soil. but we need to do more and remain ever vigilant to protect the security of our homeland. H.R. 4402 is a positive step in the right direction and I urge all Members to support this important legislation.