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Post by bot on Nov 24, 2015 20:59:06 GMT -5
Hoyer Statement on Republicans' Syrian Refugee Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on Republicans' Syrian refugee bill:
“Congress’s number one responsibility must be to keep Americans safe, and Democrats have no greater priority than making sure it does so. We must do everything within reason to prevent dangerous terrorists from crossing our borders. That’s why our nation has in place a rigorous and comprehensive screening and background check system for Syrian and Iraqi refugees – the vast majority of whom are women and children – fleeing from ISIS terror.
“I voted against this bill for several reasons. First, it will do nothing to keep America safe beyond the very thorough steps already taken. Second, I believe it creates new requirements that will make it harder for our already-shorthanded security agencies to fulfill their critical missions. Finally, this legislation feeds into the fear we’ve witnessed in the aftermath of the Paris attacks, in which America’s highest values and strongest principles are at risk of being sidelined, including our nation’s commitment to victims of oppression and tyranny seeking safety and freedom on our shores. We must never forget that America’s distinction as the home of the brave cannot be separated from our role as the land of the free. I continue to believe that we need not sacrifice our compassion for our safety – we can and must maintain both.”
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