A bill that would help prevent terrorists from entering the United States was passed by the House Monday. The legislation, the Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act of 2016 (HR 4314), was based on recommendations made by the House Committee on Homeland Security Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel.
The bipartisan Task Force stated “glaring security gaps overseas allow terrorists to cross borders more easily, putting the US homeland in greater danger.
“Nearly 40,000 jihadists from around the world have gone to fight in Syria and Iraq with groups like ISIS,” said committee chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas). “Today the House acted decisively to shut down the jihadist superhighway that allows extremists to get to their safe havens—and return to the West, prepared to strike America and our allies. This legislation will streamline and elevate US efforts to combat terrorist travel and make sure we are focusing our attention where it is needed most."
The legislation would:
- Require federal departments and agencies—for the first time ever—to put together a joint plan to stop terrorist travel;
- Accelerate federal assistance to the highest-risk countries to better detect and disrupt extremists;
- Establish minimum international standards for combating terrorism and foreign fighter travel;
- Allow the Secretary of State to suspend assistance to foreign governments that fail to meet these standards; and
- Require StateDepartment to produce an annual “score card” on how countries are fighting terrorist travel.
