[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 171 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H8405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                 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.

                              {time}  1445

  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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