SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS; Congressional Record Vol. 161, No. 173

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SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from

Texas (Mr. Veasey) for 5 minutes.

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to respectfully share with my

colleagues some of the thoughts and concerns shared by residents in the

Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. These are heartfelt views expressed since

we last met as a legislative body and voted on the passage of the

American SAFE Act.

A passionate public discussion is underway about the role the United

States should play during one of the greatest humanitarian crises of

our time. I have received calls, emails, handwritten letters, texts,

Facebook messages from fellow Texans back home.

Many have expressed clearly that they think that some of the enhanced

security clearances for Syrian and Iraqi refugees really means that

America's legacy as a Nation that shares its freedom and opportunity is

in danger.

They have expressed their disappointment, sometimes anger, that we

may be allowing our national security concerns to trump our Nation's

history of standing for liberty and justice.

I will take a moment to share their thoughts and views to ensure my

colleagues that we also consider their views when making any future

decision about the Syrian refugee crisis.

One resident stated that voting for a pause in accepting refugees

from Iraq and Syria may not slow down the trickle that arrives here,

but it is a huge symbolic vote.

Another resident stated that the SAFE Act only makes it harder for

good people to flee from danger and being used by ISIL, and his hope is

that the Obama administration is able to provide what Congress needs to

do its job and that good Members reconsider the SAFE Act and don't vote

to override the President's impending veto.

Other residents, like one in Arlington, directly stated that this

bill was wrong.

Let me be clear. I did not view the SAFE Act as a vote against Syrian

or Iraqi refugees or the greater refugee community. But the

constituents that I represent have sent a strong message that any

action that does not effectively balance national security with our

national values is off course.

We must remember that the Statue of Liberty is more than just a

symbol of freedom. It is a symbol that America is committed to

welcoming and protecting those who seek and need refuge.

Many of my Democratic colleagues have joined me in supporting

legislation that echoes this sentiment. We have sent letters to the

administration and agencies supporting refugees this past year.

I have cosigned a letter to President Obama urging him to convene

international negotiations to stop the Syrian civil war.

I cosponsored the Protecting Religious Minorities Persecuted by ISIS

Act of 2015. This legislation directs the Secretary of State to

establish or use existing refugee processing mechanisms to allow those

with a credible fear of persecution by ISIL for gender, religious, or

ethnic membership to apply for refugee admission to the United States.

But we can do more, as a Congress, to support the goals of refugee

resettlement and keep the American people safe at the same time.

If we vote to update the refugee resettlement program, we must also

allocate appropriate funds to ensure that men, women, and children

fleeing violence do not get caught in unnecessary bureaucracy.

As a Congress, we can give legislative teeth to security enhancements

to the Visa Waiver Program implemented by the Department of Homeland

Security earlier this year. We can fully fund the President's budget

request for aviation security. We can support and expedite our efforts

to expand preclearance capability of foreign airports around the world.

Doing so will provide with us a greater ability to prevent those who

should not be flying here.

I am committed to keeping Americans safe, but I know that doing so is

not inconsistent with providing refuge to some of the world's most

vulnerable people. To turn our backs on refugees would be to betray our

values.

The United States is a welcoming country that knows diversity equals

strength. Our resettlement program must continue to reflect this. Any

legislation that challenges this legacy should be rejected.

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I will continue to keep residents' thoughts and concerns at the

forefront of my decisionmaking, and I thank them for reaching out to me

over the last week. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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