[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 195 (Wednesday, November 19, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H4782-H4783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SYRIA TERRORISM THREAT ASSESSMENT ACT

  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1327) to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a 
threat assessment of terrorist threats to the United States posed by 
individuals in Syria with an affiliation with a Foreign Terrorist 
Organization or a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization, 
and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1327

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Syria Terrorism Threat 
     Assessment Act''.

     SEC. 2. THREAT ASSESSMENT OF TERRORIST THREATS POSED BY 
                   INDIVIDUALS IN SYRIA WITH AN AFFILIATION WITH A 
                   FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION OR A SPECIALLY 
                   DESIGNATED GLOBAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.

       (a) Terrorism Threat Assessment.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
     coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal 
     departments or agencies, shall conduct a threat assessment of 
     terrorist threats to the United States posed by individuals 
     in Syria with an affiliation with a foreign terrorist 
     organization or a specially designated global terrorist 
     organization.
       (2) Elements.--The threat assessment required under 
     paragraph (1) shall include the following:
       (A) An identification of the country of origin for each 
     such individual included in such threat assessment.
       (B) A description of the foreign terrorist organization or 
     specially designated global terrorist organization with which 
     each such individual is affiliated.
       (C) A description of the following:
       (i) The capability of the Department of Homeland Security 
     to identify, track, and monitor such individuals.
       (ii) Any associated challenges with such capability.
       (D) A description of any action of the Department with 
     respect to the following:
       (i) Mitigating the terrorist threats to the United States 
     posed by such individuals.
       (ii) Preventing such individuals from entering the United 
     States.
       (b) Congressional Notification.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
       (A) submit to the appropriate congressional committees the 
     threat assessment required under subsection (a); and
       (B) provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional 
     committees on such assessment.
       (2) Form.--The threat assessment required under subsection 
     (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include 
     a classified annex.
       (c) Definitions.--In this Act:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs of the Senate.
       (2) Foreign terrorist organization.--The term ``foreign 
     terrorist organization'' means an organization designated as 
     a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).
       (3) Specially designated global terrorist organization.--
     The term ``specially designated global terrorist 
     organization'' means an organization that has been designated 
     as a specially designated global terrorist organization by 
     the Secretary of State or the Secretary of the Treasury, as 
     the case may be, pursuant to Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C. 
     1701 note; relating to blocking property and prohibiting 
     transactions with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or 
     support terrorism).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Guest) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Goldman) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi.

[[Page H4783]]

  



                             General Leave

  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 1327.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Mississippi?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1327, the Syria Terrorism 
Threat Assessment Act.
  This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to conduct an 
assessment of the threats posed to the United States by individuals in 
Syria affiliated with a foreign terrorist organization or a specially 
designated global terrorist group.
  Syria suffered under the Assad regime for decades and Assad allowed 
Syria to be used as a hub of terrorist activity. While the Assad regime 
may no longer be in place, that does not mean that those terror 
networks have dispersed. This bill ensures that DHS and lawmakers are 
fully informed regarding terrorist threats to the United States that 
are still present in Syria.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise also in support of H.R. 1327, the Syria Terrorism 
Threat Assessment Act.
  In December, the world watched as the Assad regime in Syria collapsed 
after 53 years of brutality and repression.
  As President Biden stated at the time, Assad's fall ushered a 
``historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria.'' 
However, many also warned that the potential resurgence of terrorist 
groups in the regions, like the Islamic State or al-Qaida, could pose a 
significant threat to Americans and U.S. interests in the region and 
the homeland.
  The Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act is responsive to those 
warnings, and I thank my colleague Mr. Luttrell for introducing this.
  It ensures that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination 
with intelligence community partners, will evaluate and monitor 
terrorist threats to the United States posed by individuals in Syria 
affiliated with a foreign terrorist organization or a specially 
designated global terrorist organization.
  This is essential to ensure that the new government in Syria is 
growing with the United States' support and in a way that defeats 
terrorism on the world's stage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1220

  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Luttrell).
  Mr. LUTTRELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Guest for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to advocate for the passage of H.R. 1327, 
the Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act.
  When the Assad regime was toppled in Syria late last year, the threat 
of terrorism did not disappear. It just actually shifted, adapted, and 
found new ways to survive.
  For decades, the Assad regime gave terrorist groups a place to train, 
organize, and plan attacks. You don't just swipe away the leadership 
and make the terrorism go away. Those threats don't disappear 
overnight, and we would be foolish to think otherwise.
  Although Syria's Government is in transition and terrorist 
designations against its new leadership have been lifted, we must not 
be naive to other terrorist threats that may still originate in the 
region.
  This bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a 
threat assessment posed to the U.S. by individuals in Syria associated 
with foreign terrorist organizations.
  As this body and this administration determine how best to engage 
with Syria in a post-Assad era, this threat assessment ensures that we 
have the information we need to make these decisions with eyes wide 
open. By doing so, we can better examine and mitigate emerging threats 
from the region.
  Our mission is clear. We must protect American lives and prevent 
future attacks on the homeland by strengthening our counterterrorism 
efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Correa for his support, and I urge my 
colleagues to support this sensible legislation.
  Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. Speaker, we have a duty to be vigilant about potential terrorist 
threats to the homeland. This bill ensures that the Department of 
Homeland Security will do just that.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1327, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1327, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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