Xavier Becerra: “The safety of our fellow Americans, and America itself, is and must be our number one priority, our number one…”

“The safety of our fellow Americans, and America itself, is and must be our number one priority, our number one responsibility here in this Chamber. The people of America have a right to expect--indeed, demand--exactly that. Our national security screening and background system for refugees is the toughest in the world. That is why so few refugees from Syria have ever been able to receive their clearance to be accepted into this country. But then Paris, November 13, happened. Terror reigns and fear spreads, including here. We are reminded of 9/11. If I believed that this rushed legislation made our toughest of refugee screening systems work better, I would vote for it. If this rushed legislation only adds another layer of bureaucracy that makes our screening process look tougher and then results in denying women and children who are fleeing the very terrorists we seek to keep out a chance to seek that refuge here in this country, then I cannot support that. Our tradition and our values open our door, as in the past, to those who fled Europe to start this country in the first place. It is up to us to do this courageously and do it right, not with rushed legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote.”