WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today voted to begin debate on the American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act, which would put measures in place to ensure those seeking refuge in the United States from Syria and Iraq do not pose a threat to our nation.

Debate on the bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a bipartisan vote in November, was blocked by Senate Democrats on a 55-43 vote.

“Today the Senate had an opportunity to begin debate on bipartisan legislation that would address the vetting process for thousands of refugees who wish to enter the U.S. after fleeing war-torn Syria and the threats of ISIS in Iraq. Recent attacks and concerns about terrorists infiltrating this refugee population underscore the need to reexamine the screening process and ensure we have the correct policies in place to guarantee that refugees are not affiliated with ISIS or other terrorist organizations,” said Senator Capito.

“The American SAFE Act would simply require the nation’s top security officials to verify background checks and declare that those wishing to enter the U.S. do not pose a threat, and I am deeply disappointed that Senate Democrats blocked debate on this bipartisan national security bill. I will continue to pursue commonsense reforms that both protect our domestic security and safely admit those refugees in need,” she continued.

Senator Capito has taken several steps to tighten security checks for refugees and other visitors seeking to enter the United States. 

  • In September, after the administration announced its intent to take in at least 10,000 refugees, Senator Capito and five of her Senate colleagues sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Secretary of State John Kerry calling for rigorous security vetting of all applicants. The letter also asks Secretaries Johnson and Kerry to provide a detailed plan about how they would address the threat of infiltration by terrorist groups.
  • Following the ISIS terror attacks on November 13 in Paris, where at least one of the attackers utilized the flow of refugees to infiltrate Europe, Senator Capito and several of her Senate colleagues sent a letter to President Obama expressing opposition to admitting any refugees from Syria unless U.S. officials can verify that the individual refugee is not a member of ISIS and does not pose a terrorist threat to the American people.
  • In December, Senator Capito and 10 Senate colleagues sent a letter to FBI Director James Comey, and Secretaries Kerry and Johnson asking whether changes were made to the background check system following a failure that allowed two terrorists affiliated with al Qaeda to settle in Bowling Green, Kentucky in 2013. The letter also asks whether any known terrorists are currently part of the refugee program.

  • Senator Capito is also a cosponsor of the Defend America Act (S. 2435), which would strengthen background checks and tighten social media and online activity screening for refugees and other visitors seeking admission to the country.

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