Dear Friends,
By now, many of you have heard the troubling reports about the attempted Christmas Day bomb plot on an airplane over the skies of Detroit. This latest attack, coupled with the terrorist shooting at Ft. Hood, highlighted systemic failures in our immigration and national security policies.
While President Obama may have declared an end to the War on Terror, it is clear out enemies did not get the message. The Christmas Day attack marks the second time in two months that radical Islamic terrorists have attacked our nation, and unfortunately, the Administration has failed to adapt its national security policies to counter the renewed resolve of those who seek to harm our citizens.
However, with all this alarming news, the President still stands by his decision to close the terrorist detainee facility at Guantanamo Bay despite reports that released prisoners were behind the Christmas Day Bomb plot.
To address these serious concerns, I will update and reintroduce legislation known as the STEP Act which I originally authored back in 2003. This legislation will strengthen our national security through common sense changes to our current immigration laws.
The STEP Act of 2010 bars the admission of aliens from countries designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism, as well as Yemen, to the United States. Additionally, it prohibits detainees currently housed at GITMO from being transferred to our country.
The State Department has identified the following states as sponsors of terrorism: Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria. Given the recent reports of increased levels of terrorist activities in Yemen, I believe we need to block its citizens from traveling to the U.S. as well.
We must be vigilant as a nation in order to make certain that we can continue to live safely and freely. As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve.
God Bless,