Washington, D.C. – Today, the House passed the Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act (H.R. 4314), authored by Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY).  Today’s bipartisan legislation will help improve border security and information sharing between governments at a time when terrorists are working to move across borders without detection.

On the House floor, speaking in support of the bipartisan legislation, Chairman Royce delivered the following remarks (as prepared for delivery): 

I want to thank Mr. Zeldin for his work on H.R. 4314, the Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act, as well as the other members of the Committee on Homeland Security’s bipartisan Task Force on Combatting Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel – under the leadership of Chairman McCaul and with the significant contributions of Mr. Katko.  The Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously approved this measure in January.  

Mr. Speaker, Al-Qaeda planned the 9/11 attacks from Afghanistan. Now ISIS controls significant territory in Syria, Iraq, and Libya. As long as terrorist groups maintain these safe havens abroad, we are under constant threat at home.

The perpetrators of the horrific Paris attack that killed 130 were European nationals – some of whom had travelled to train and fight in Syria, returning to Europe through Greece and Turkey.  And, despite some of the attackers being known to local authorities, they were able to move across borders without detection, in some cases using fraudulent passports. 

Given the high number of foreign fighters returning home from ISIS strongholds in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, there is a recognized and urgent need for improved border security and information sharing between governments.

This threat is not limited to the United States and Europe. Earlier this month, terrorists that had received training inside Libya were killed by Tunisian security forces during an attempted terrorist attack inside Tunisia.

These attacks demonstrate how easy it has become for terrorists and foreign fighters to move across open borders.   This legislation makes several important changes to how border security is administered, improves the tools deployed at the border, and increases the border security coordination between allied states. 

This legislation requires the Departments of State and Homeland Security to produce an annual “score card” assessing the border security efforts of countries around the world.  This will identify weaknesses and areas for improvement abroad, and streamline our own efforts to assist partners overseas with border security programs.  The Administration will then submit a plan to Congress for prioritizing U.S. assistance.

The bill also requires the establishment of minimum standards for border security.  Countries that fail to meet these minimum standards can have U.S. foreign assistance suspended – employing the same incentive already in place for trafficking and human rights violations.  This is important leverage. 

This bill reflects the recommendations made by our colleagues on the Committee on Homeland Security’s bipartisan Task Force on Combatting Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel, which we have worked together on.  I again thank Mr. Zeldin for his leadership working to make our nation safer against the terrorist threat.

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