Bill Lee: “I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding and for his leadership on these critical issues. Mr.…”

“I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding and for his leadership on these critical issues. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the rule, H. Res. 531, and also to the bill, H.R. 4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015. Foreign enemies--refugees. We all watched with horror as unconscionable violence unfolded in Paris over the weekend, but also in Egypt, in Lebanon, and in Nigeria. So let me just first say that my thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who have been affected by all of these tragedies. But it would be a grave mistake to use these attacks as a pretense to close our doors to the families that are fleeing ISIL in their own countries. The overwhelming majority, of course, are women and children. Just as the unfortunate attacks of 911 required us to step up and lead, we are at that moment again where Members of Congress need to lead. This counterproductive bill would immediately shut down the resettlement of refugees from countries such as Syria and Iraq while significantly slowing down--yes, shutting down--our resettlement process in the future. But, of course, as Members of Congress, our first goal is keeping our country safe. We all are committed to that, and we do that each and every day. But preventing these people suffering the violence of war-- the violence of war--sends the wrong signal first to our allies; to our own country.…”