House votes to approve Syrian/Iraqi refugee bill, timing on Senate vote uncertain (Updated)

Editor’s note: Story updated with party line vote info, and section on related legislation filed by U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock.

A bill that would seek to strengthen background checks and security dealing with Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the aftermath of terrorist attacks in Paris received the support of Arkansas’ four members of the U.S. House.

The 289-173 vote – about three votes more than a veto-proof majority – was on HR 4038. The bill, co-sponsored by 89 House members including U.S. Reps. French Hill, R-Little Rock; Steve Womack, R-Rogers; and Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs; now heads to the Senate where it faces a battle. 

Votes fell largely along party lines. There were 242 Republicans and 47 Democrats voting for the bill, with two Republicans and 135 Democrats opposing.

Westerman and Womack said the bill would protect Americans and provide security.

“The American SAFE Act is a first step in keeping Americans safe, but it’s not the end of our work,” Westerman said. “Immediately following the terror attacks in Paris six days ago, the Members of the House worked over the weekend to expedite legislation already in development to address the refugee issues and designed to step up security in the United States. The SAFE Act will require the administration to verify these refugees are not terrorists. The administration and the FBI have already said they cannot verify refugees from Syria are not radicalized, so this bill would immediately stop the flow of unverifiable and potentially dangerous individuals into the United States. This common sense legislation is supported by the vast majority of America. It has bi-partisan support and it is a bill the president should support to prevent future attacks instead of vetoing this bill.”

Westerman also said if President Obama attempts to veto the legislation, that Congress has “other tools” to “protect the homeland.”

Womack said his vote was about national security.

“The safety and security of the American people is my top priority, which is why I am proud to cosponsor and vote in favor of the American SAFE Act. We must strengthen our vetting and security policies to stop President Obama from haphazardly admitting waves of Syrian refugees and ensure that individuals associated with terrorism cannot enter our nation and our communities. More must be done, and I will continue to fight for policies that protect our homeland,” Womack said.

According to the bill, the refugees must undergo both extensive background checks while the overall policy is strengthened.

“In addition to the screening conducted by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall take all actions necessary to ensure that each covered alien receives a thorough background investigation prior to admission as a refugee. A covered alien may not be admitted as a refugee until the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation certifies to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence that each covered alien has received a background investigation that is sufficient to determine whether the covered alien is a threat to the security of the United States,” the bill reads.

“A covered alien may only be admitted to the United States after the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the unanimous concurrence of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Director of National Intelligence, certifies to the appropriate Congressional Committees that the covered alien is not a threat to the security of the United States.”

Also, the Department of Homeland Security must put together a monthly report showing applications “with regard to which a certification under subsection (b) was made and the number of covered aliens with regard to whom such a certification was not made for the month preceding the date of the report.”

According to the Washington D.C.. publication Roll Call, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he would not allow a vote on a transportation and housing bill go through without first having a vote on the Syrian refugee issue.

“I will use all available Senate rules and procedures to force them to use all possible time,” Paul said in a statement to Roll Call.

The publication reported that Paul blocked consideration of amendments unless he could get a vote on an amendment designed to block federal benefits for any arriving refugees.

“I have an amendment that is not only pertinent to the biggest issue of the day, I have an amendment that is germane,” Paul said. “For those who make a mockery of this process by saying we’re going to have regular order, we’re not going to have regular order.”

EXPANDED VETTING PROCESS
U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock on Thursday introduced H.R. 4086, the Security Verification for Refugees Act, a bill that would expand the vetting process proposed under H.R. 4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act of 2015.

 In H.R. 4038, the term “covered alien” only includes refugees from Syria and Iraq. H.R. 4086 would redefine the term “covered alien” to include anyone seeking asylum in America from a country designated as a high-risk threat to the United States by the U.S. Department of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Refugees applying for asylum from high-risk countries would require individual verification by DHS, FBI, and DNI before being granted admission to the United States.

Hill said his bill will add more provisions in dealing with security.

 “America needs to remain a beacon of hope, liberty, and freedom for the rest of the world. However, in maintaining that promise, we also need to maintain our promise of defending the American people from the very real threats our enemies pose. Today’s vote in the House gets the ball moving in the right direction, but it is missing needed provisions that will avoid this same pitfall down the road,” Hill said.