TERRORIST ATTACKS AND SYRIAN REFUGEES; Congressional Record Vol. 161, No. 171

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TERRORIST ATTACKS AND SYRIAN REFUGEES

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Comstock). Under the Speaker's

announced policy of January 6, 2015, the gentleman from California (Mr.

Costa) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority

leader.

Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my deepest

condolences to all the individuals who have been affected in recent

months by terrorist attacks throughout the world and, also, to focus on

the need for America to step up and to in a more comprehensive way lead

a global effort again these terrorists.

My thoughts and prayers--and our thoughts and prayers as a Nation--

continue to be with the people of France, Algiers, Lebanon, and Russia,

the victims and their families, who are suffering during this time.

With worldwide attention and support for defeating terrorism, America

has a new opportunity to draw a line in the sand and lead a global

coalition. The United States, our allies, and those who oppose

terrorist groups must come together on a comprehensive plan for

eliminating terrorist organizations, like ISIL, al Qaeda, and all those

who support terrorist activities, whether it be on the Internet or in

all sorts of ways that we are discovering today.

America must provide the leadership and use all of the resources at

our disposal to eliminate these terrorist organizations and their

supporters. I understand that the world is facing a humanitarian crisis

and it is a serious problem.

I think we here in the Congress all understand that our first

responsibility is to protect and defend the American people from all

enemies, foreign and domestic. We take an oath when we are sworn in

every 2 years for that purpose.

The Syrian refugees are seeking safety, and the United States has a

thorough vetting process for those refugees and others. We can always

improve our efforts to protect the American public while at the same

time providing the very humanitarian aid that is necessary.

Recent terrorist attacks have led Congress to assess the current

process the United States uses to grant entry to refugees who are

seeking safety from their country. These are women and children. These

are innocent people who have been terribly impacted by the civil war in

Syria. There are camps in Jordan with over a million and a half people,

and Turkey has a similar number. Of course, we see the accounts of

these refugees fleeing to Europe.

What do we do? We have to respond. The legislation that passed today

and the legislation that the Senate has introduced today is an effort

to improve the current system. Clearly, these legislative efforts are a

work in progress and they will change.

To succeed, we must work closely with the President always to focus

on ways that we can improve to protect American citizens because we

know this, that terrorists never ever sleep. I believe the

administration is doing everything it can to make absolutely certain

that our efforts to provide that humanitarian support does not threaten

American lives.

In addition to ensuring that a strict and thorough vetting process is

in place, we need to pursue comprehensive efforts that include working

with our allies to end this civil war in Syria, which, as we know, is

the primary source of this refugee crisis.

Let's be clear. It is easy to Monday-morning-quarterback this, but

there are multiple causes to the conflicts in Syria and, in essence,

more than one war that is taking place.

There is the civil war that is caused by Assad, but there is a proxy

war between Russia and Iran against the Sunni nations. Then, of course,

there is a conflict going on between Turkey and the Kurds.

Then, of course, there are our collective efforts for the majority of

the countries to go after ISIL and their horrific crimes. We have

conflicting alliances within the multiple conflicts that are taking

place within Syria today.

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Therefore, it is not easy as we try to sort this out in a way to put

this comprehensive strategy together. If a global coalition is put in

place, we can, I believe, combat this terrorism activity and bring

those terrorists responsible for these horrific crimes, crimes against

humanity, to justice. And we must.

Let's face it. They have declared war on Western civilization and our

very way of life. I know that the President is working very hard to put

this comprehensive effort together.

Ladies and gentlemen, Madam Speaker, this is not nor should it be a

partisan issue. Every Member of Congress and the President go to bed at

night, and we wake up in the morning with the safety of the American

people being always our first priority.

Let me repeat that. This is not a partisan issue. We all fear for a

worst case scenario. Therefore, we must be working together in a

bipartisan effort on any concepts of legislation that we consider with

the administration, with the President to continually improve our

ability to protect our American citizens.

Now, it is important that we understand that this will be costly, and

sacrifices will inevitably be made. Today, American men and women are

in harm's way in the Middle East, serving in our military, doing their

very best on multiple fronts. It is not just the sacrifices they are

making, but it is the sacrifices their families are making as well.

It is essential that we come together to develop and implement a

long-term comprehensive plan. At the end of the day, it is the only way

we will protect our freedoms and our way of life. This is what is at

stake, and this is why, as we go home for the Thanksgiving recess, with

our families and friends, we contemplate how we might do a better job

working with the administration.

As we look at this Thanksgiving week coming up, truly we have a lot

to be thankful for in this Nation. We must remember as Americans, the

common values that we share, the bonds that we hold most dear are far,

far stronger than whatever differences we may have.

Madam Speaker, I wish my colleagues here in the Congress, as we go

back to our homes throughout America, a very blessed Thanksgiving with

their families and friends. May God bless the United States of America,

and may He grant us the guidance to work together in a more united way

to solve these difficult challenges we have in front of us today,

because we know, working together, all is possible.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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