Veasey Addresses Syrian Refugee Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33), addressed his House colleagues to share his constituents' thoughts and concerns regarding the American SAFE Act. Veasey is committed to supporting Syrian refugees and refugee resettlement while balancing the nation's evolving national security needs.

Watch Congressman Veasey's full speech here.

Veasey's remarks, as prepared for delivery, are shared below:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to respectfully share with my colleagues some of the thoughts concerns shared by those I represent in the 33rd Congressional District.

These are heartfelt views expressed since we last met as a legislative body and passage of the American SAFE Act.

A passionate public discussion is underway about the role the United States should play during one of the greatest humanitarian crises of our time.

I've received calls, handwritten letters, emails, tweets and Facebook messages from my fellow Texans back home.

Many have expressed what they believe updated and enhanced security clearances for Syrian and Iraqi refugees' really means for America's legacy as a nation that cherishes freedom and opportunity.

They have expressed their disappointment – sometimes anger – that we may be allowing concerns for national security trump our nation's history of standing for liberty and justice.

I will take a moment to share their thoughts to ensure that my colleagues also consider their views when making any future decisions about the Syrian refugee crisis.

An Irving resident stated, "voting for a pause in accepting refugees from Iraq and Syria may not slow down the trickle that arrive here, but it is hugely symbolic vote."

While another Oak Cliff resident felt that "The SAFE Act only makes it harder for good people to flee from danger, and being used by ISIL". . . . and his hope that, "the Obama Administration is able to provide what Congress needs to do its job, and that good members reconsider the SAFE Act, and don't vote to override the President's impending veto."

Other constituents like one of my Arlington residents directly stated, "This bill was wrong."

Let me be clear, I did not view the Safe Act as a vote against Syrian or Iraqi refugees or the greater refugee community.

But the constituents I represent have sent me a strong message that any action that does not effectively balance national security with our national values is off course.

We must remember that the Statue of Liberty is more than just a symbol of freedom.

It is a symbol that America is committed to welcoming to those who seek and need refuge.

Many of my Democratic colleagues have joined me in supporting legislation that echoes this sentiment.

We've sent letters to the Administration and agencies supporting refugees in the past year.

I have co-signed a letter to President Obama urging him to convene international negotiations to stop the Syrian Civil War.

I co-sponsored the Protecting Religious Minorities Persecuted by ISIS Act of 2015.

This legislation directs the Secretary of State to establish or use existing refugee processing mechanisms to allow those with a credible fear of persecution by ISIL for gender, religious, or ethnic membership to apply directly for priority 2 refugee admission to the United States.

But we can do more as a Congress to support the goals of refugee resettlement and keep the American people safe at the same time.

If we vote to update the refugee resettlement program – we must also allocate the appropriate funds to ensure that the men, women, and children fleeing violence do not get caught in unnecessary bureaucracy.

As a Congress, we can give legislative teeth to security enhancements to the Visa Waiver program implemented by the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year.

We can fully fund the President's budget request for aviation security.

And we can support and expedite our efforts to expand the preclearance capability of foreign airports around the world.

Doing so would provide us with a greater ability to prevent those who should not be flying here from doing so.

I am committed to keeping Americans safe, but I know that doing so is not inconsistent with providing refuge to some of the world's most vulnerable people.

To turn our backs on refugees would be to betray our values.

The United States is a welcoming country that knows that diversity equals strength.

Our resettlement program must continue to reflect this.

Any legislation that challenges this legacy should be rejected.

I will continue to keep my constituents' thoughts and concerns at the forefront of my decision making and I thank them for reaching out to me over the last week.

I urge my colleagues across the aisle to do the same.

I yield back the remainder of my time.