[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 19569-19570]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             FIGHTING ISIS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, last night, President Obama spoke in stark 
terms about the threat terrorism poses to the United States. He 
detailed the extraordinary efforts our government is taking to protect 
Americans. He also outlined a strong plan for continuing to combat 
terrorism at home and abroad. President Obama is right to say the first 
thing Congress should do is close the loophole that lets the FBI terror 
suspects buy assault weapons such as those used in the San Bernardino 
shooting.
  Senate Democrats support President Obama's plan to fight ISIS and 
protect America. President Obama has made it clear that Democrats do 
not believe we should put thousands of troops on the ground in the 
middle of another civil war in the Middle East. But we do support the 
President's strategy of continuing to go after ISIS in the air with our 
coalition partners, targeting their leadership, oil infrastructure, and 
heavy weapons.
  We know that it must be the local forces on the ground that 
ultimately fight for and hold their ground because it is their land.
  Senate Democrats understand that the Syrian war will only be resolved 
diplomatically, with all parties supporting the removal of Assad. We 
also know that we can do more to address the threats from terrorists. 
That is why beginning today Senate Democrats will unveil a series of 
proposals to take the fight to ISIS while enhancing our protection of 
Americans at home.
  There are a few important steps we must take in order to combat 
ISIS's terrorism. The Democratic plan would create a new ISIS czar, one 
person who is fully empowered and unifies the Federal Government's 
efforts in fighting ISIS. We did it with Ebola. We certainly can do it 
with this scourge that is facing our country, ISIS. I am pleased that 
President Obama has taken a first step in that direction.
  To continue targeted airstrikes on ISIS strongholds and oil supplies 
and to increase support for anti-ISIS local fighters on the ground are 
part of the plan.
  We must also cut off ISIS money through new sanctions.
  ISIS runs its reign of terror in Iraq and Syria through extortion, 
oil sales, and theft. Senate Democrats' legislation imposes new 
sanctions--and they are tough--including a cutoff from the U.S. and 
international financial systems if people knowingly facilitate 
financial transactions with ISIS.
  One of the things that would help is that we have a person who has 
been waiting for hundreds of days to be confirmed. What is his job? He 
works in the Treasury Department with the State Department to stop 
financing of terrorism. The Republicans--for reasons totally not 
understood by anyone--are blocking voting on this person. The job is 
vacant.
  We also believe that we should improve intelligence training between 
the United States and our allies in the fight against ISIS. Some of 
that has started, of course.
  We believe we must screen and support migrants in Europe and the 
Middle East. Europe is facing an unprecedented number of migrants 
landing on their shores, almost 1 million this year. Their screening 
systems have been overwhelmed by the large number of migrants. Our bill 
would respond to Europeans' request to provide them with technical 
assistance to screen migrants and improve their own border security and 
our security as well.
  In the Middle East, the Democrats' plan will help Jordan, a strong 
U.S. ally at the forefront of the migrant crisis. Four million people 
are displaced in the region, creating instability in Jordan, our ally, 
and also harming the neighboring countries. Democrats' legislation 
includes a new stabilization fund for Jordan and Lebanon, helping those 
fleeing the conflict in Syria stay in the region, closer to home.
  These are just a few of the components of our plan to degrade and 
destroy ISIS, but we are equally committed to thwarting terrorism here 
at home. The Democratic plan would close the terrorist's gun loophole.
  As of today, there is a legal loophole that prevents law enforcement 
from verifying that potential gun buyers are not FBI terror suspects. 
That means if a person has pledged allegiance to ISIS online and is 
barred from flying due to the threat they pose, that man or woman can 
still walk into any gunshop and purchase weapons and ammunition. They 
can do that today, right now. That is wrong.
  Last Thursday Democrats tried to pass legislation to give law 
enforcement the tools needed to prevent the sale of guns to suspected 
terrorists. Republicans blocked our commonsense measure. We are not 
finished. We will bring this vote to the floor as often as we can. That 
is the way it should be.
  We need to strengthen the Visa Waiver Program. It was amazing to see 
the Republicans running for President waffle and weasel out of why 
someone who is on a flight-risk status, someone who

[[Page 19570]]

cannot fly, should be able to buy a gun. It was interesting to see on 
the Sunday shows the Republicans waffle and weasel through answers on 
this subject.
  We need to strengthen the Visa Waiver Program so ISIS fighters cannot 
access the program and travel to our country. This includes requiring 
visa waiver travelers to use machine-readable passports, requiring 
information sharing rules with visa waiver countries and requiring visa 
waiver countries to enter into agreements regarding the air marshal 
program and to comply with U.S. aviation and airport security 
standards.
  We must improve aviation security. We must work to secure our 
airports. We saw all the news when ISIS brought down a Russian plane 
with hundreds of passengers aboard.
  A recent report from the Homeland Security inspector general found 
that 73 workers with access to secure areas in airports had links to 
terrorism--stunning. Our legislation authorizes new vetting for 
aviation workers and new security measures for the most important areas 
of our airports.
  We must lock down radiological materials to stop a dirty bomb. With 
both ISIS and Al Qaeda saying they want to get their hands on weapons 
of mass destruction, it is disturbing that there are 2,300 sites around 
the United States with radiological material. Our legislation requires 
a new plan for locking down those materials at the places where they 
are held, such as universities and hospitals, so we can reduce the 
threat of a dirty bomb.
  Our legislation is concerned--and we are going to do everything we 
can--with preventing homegrown terrorists by creating an office within 
the Department of Homeland Security tasked with countering extremism.
  We must address encryption by directing the National Academy of 
Sciences, the intelligence community, and the private sector to work 
together to identify new encryption technology and how it is used to 
make sure that our national security needs and technology policies are 
not working at cross purposes.
  Finally, Senate Democrats are proposing legislation to provide law 
enforcement agencies with grant money to help prepare for active 
shooter situations. We know how critical first responders are to 
containing and ending active shooter attacks. So we should ensure they 
have all the tools necessary.
  This is the plan that we, Senate Democrats, are putting forward. It 
is comprehensive. It addresses international and domestic concerns. The 
consequences of inaction are too grave for us to waste time seeking 
political gain.
  The security of our Nation and the decimation of ISIS depend on the 
steps we take now. So I hope Republicans will join us to implement 
these logical reforms that place the security of Americans first and 
address the threat of ISIS around the world.
  Mr. President, I see no one on the floor wishing to speak.
  Would the Chair announce the program for the day.

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