Courtney Statement on Passage of Refugee Screening Bill

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Joe Courtney today voted in favor of the American SAFE Act (H.R. 4038), a bill to augment the existing process for screening refugees entering the United States. Earlier this week, Courtney publicly posted information about the existing refugee screening process on his website, /us-refugee-security-screening/.

“Americans want to know -- and deserve to know -- that their government is rigorously and thoroughly reviewing all refugee candidates to ensure no one is taking advantage of our nation’s generosity to commit violence here,” Courtney said. “The process in place today to screen any refugee seeking to enter the United States is already extensive, featuring more than a dozen layers of review by our security and intelligence agencies and additional screening for those arriving from Syria. The heightened awareness of the threat posed by ISIL gives Congress the opportunity to build on this effective screening process already in place to address the legitimate concerns that many in eastern Connecticut, and around the country, feel today. In my view, the measure I supported today will build on that process while ensuring that our nation continues to honor our values by welcoming those fleeing the terror inflicted on innocent people by ISIL."

“This bill, however, should not be confused for a solution to the urgent and larger issues that face our nation including the ongoing tragedy of the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the ongoing threat posed by the terrorist group ISIL. Notably, while it took only a few days to bring this bill to the floor this week, Congress has yet to pass a spending bill to keep the government open beyond December 11 as well as the authorization for military force submitted by the President in February to guide our nation’s efforts, along with our international partners, to combat ISIL It is my hope that the House leadership will put as much effort into the speedy passage of a bill to keep our security agencies and humanitarian efforts fully funded for the next year as it has in quickly passing this bill today.”