(Long Island, NY) Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today announced that his bill, the Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act of 2016 (H.R. 4314) passed the House of Representatives on March 21, 2016 by a vote of 371-2.
The Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act would establish international border security standards to close security gaps that currently exist that allow terrorists and foreign fighters to travel internationally. The plan would establish international border security standards that would be developed in coordination with all relevant U.S. Government departments and agencies in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, Director of National Intelligence, and Director of the FBI. Under the plan, U.S. resources would be utilized in the most efficient way possible with a special focus on high-risk and medium-risk countries to boost security. Under this legislation, a reporting system would also be established to monitor efforts of foreign governments to combat terrorism and foreign fighter travel and to suspend foreign assistance to countries not making significant efforts to comply. Furthermore, the bill would put in place a monitoring system that would screen for infectious diseases to contain and prevent any potential outbreaks, which will help quarantine viruses by authorizing the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide the necessary equipment and supplies to mitigate the risk or threat of infectious diseases, such as Zika, a disease that has caused widespread alarm as it continues to spread across the global community.
Congressman Zeldin said, “I am proud to announce that my bill, the Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act of 2016, to protect America’s security at home and abroad, passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. Foreign fighter movement is a very serious challenge that has resulted in the well-recognized need for improved border security around the world and better information sharing between governments. The horrific terror attack in Paris that killed over 100 people showed us just how easy it is for terrorists to move undetected across borders. This attack was largely carried out by European nationals – many of whom traveled to train and fight in Syria and then later returned to Europe through Greece and Turkey. Although local authorities already knew some of the attackers, they were still able to move across borders without detection, and in some cases used fraudulent passports. It’s essential that the United States works with the international community to monitor and stop the movement of terrorists abroad.”
“Additionally, this legislation helps us counter the spread of infectious diseases, like Zika,” Congressman Zeldincontinued. “With the recent outbreak of the mosquito borne Zika virus, which has spread at rapid rates across South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and the number of Zika cases among travelers visiting or returning to the United States, we must take action now. As evidenced with the Ebola outbreak in 2013, which decimated populations across Western Africa, if the proper effort is not implemented proactively, the consequences can be truly devastating.”
“The Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act of 2016 is a bipartisan measure to keep Americans safe that was long overdue to not only protect our homeland from terrorism, but also ensure the U.S. is always prepared to combat the spread of any infectious diseases,” Congressman Zeldin concluded.
Congressman Zeldin spoke on the House floor before the bill was voted on. You can watch the video here.
A copy of the bill can be found here.
