[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9431]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           FIGHTING TERRORISM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the terrorist attack that claimed 49 
innocent victims in Orlando left families broken and our country 
shaken. It was a deliberately targeted attack inspired by the hateful 
ideology of ISIL, and it tragically reminded us of the continuing 
threat of ISIL-directed and ISIL-inspired attacks right here in our 
country.
  We know that the way to prevent more of these terrorist attacks is to 
actually defeat ISIL where it trains, operates, and prepares for 
attacks, like in Iraq and Syria.
  The President at least appeared to recognize that this weekend when 
he said that ``we are and we will keep doing everything in our power to 
stop these kinds of attacks and to ultimately destroy ISIL.''
  But as the Nation just learned from CIA Director John Brennan, ISIL 
remains ``a formidable, resilient, and largely cohesive enemy.'' Our 
efforts thus far ``have not reduced the group's terrorism capability 
and global reach''--this is Brennan--and ISIL is ``training and 
attempting to deploy operatives for further attacks'' in the West.
  It is evident that the President's campaign to contain ISIL has not 
been sufficient to defeat this group abroad or prevent more ISIL-
inspired attacks right here at home. He needs to finally lead a 
campaign to accomplish this objective or at least prepare the military 
and intelligence community to help the next President do so if he 
won't.
  Here in the Senate, we should continue our efforts to fight terror 
beyond our borders and prevent attacks within them. These have been 
priorities for Republican Senators for a long time, and they continue 
to be at the forefront of our efforts now.
  We have offered proposals to help connect the dots with respect to 
terrorist communications. We have offered proposals to help address the 
threat of lone-wolf attacks like the one we saw in Orlando. And we have 
offered proposals to help ensure terrorists are not able to purchase 
weapons.
  We will consider two of them today, along with two Democratic 
alternatives. The first proposal, from Senator Cornyn, would 
immediately block the sale of a firearm or explosive or explosives to a 
suspected terrorist and, once probable cause is shown, not only 
permanently block that sale but also allow the suspected terrorist to 
be arrested and detained. This would apply to anyone currently 
investigated as a terrorist suspect as well as to anyone who was 
investigated within the last 5 years.
  Unlike Senator Cornyn's proposal, the Democratic alternative would 
not--would not--prevent a terrorist from buying explosives as the 
alternative pertains only to firearms. Unlike Senator Cornyn's 
proposal, the Democratic alternative would not notify State and local 
law enforcement when a terrorist tries to buy a weapon nor would the 
alternative even give authority for that terrorist to be arrested or 
detained.
  Unlike Senator Cornyn's proposal, the Democratic alternative would 
not ensure due process, protect our constitutional rights, or require 
the government to periodically review its procedures to ensure it is 
investigating the right people.
  The second proposal, from Senator Grassley, would improve the 
background check database by helping ensure all levels of government 
are actually submitting the necessary records, including mental health 
records. It would also allow for additional resources to update and 
improve the system further.
  Unlike Senator Grassley's proposal, the Democratic alternative would 
not study the causes of mass shootings.
  Unlike Senator Grassley's proposal, the Democratic alternative would 
not help prevent failed gun walking operations like Fast and Furious.
  Unlike Senator Grassley's proposal, the Democratic alternative would 
not require the Department of Justice to explain why it has not been 
using the gun laws already on the books to prosecute gun cases. We know 
that weapons-related convictions under the Obama administration are 
down more than 30 percent compared to a decade ago.
  So, look, no one wants terrorists to be able to buy guns or 
explosives--no one. Instead of using this as an opportunity to push a 
partisan agenda or craft the next 30-second campaign ad, colleagues 
like Senator Cornyn and Senator Grassley are pursuing real solutions 
that can help keep Americans safer from the threat of terrorism. They 
are approaching this serious topic in a serious and constitutional way. 
They also understand that ultimately the most important way to prevent 
more terrorist tragedies at home is by defeating terrorism overseas.
  Serious solutions--that is what the American people now demand more 
than ever. That is where we should keep our focus.

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