Heitkamp Questions Witnesses on ISIS Threats & Preventing Radicalization

Press Release

During a U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security hearing, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp questioned terrorism experts and witnesses who have firsthand experience with ISIS about how the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies can use more effective messages to prevent ISIS radicalization and homegrown terrorism. The hearing, which addressed "The Ideology of ISIS," included testimony from a Yazidi girl who was taken captive by ISIS, as well as from experts in religious studies and Middle East policy.

Heitkamp has long backed tough, smart national security policies to keep communities in North Dakota and across the country strong and safe -- including legislation she sponsored this month to fully fund the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) by adding $175 million in additional funding to the FBI's counter-terrorism efforts. That federal funding would add nearly 400 counter-terrorism positions to equip FBI to better handle emerging threats.

"Being tough and smart on terrorism to keep our communities safe means listening to experts about what we can do to stop radicalization and prevent homegrown threats from arising," said Heitkamp. "At a U.S. Senate hearing, I asked witnesses about what Congress can do to prepare us to handle the ISIS threat, and what we can do to prevent radicalization at home. That includes fully funding agencies like the FBI, which are on the front lines in our domestic counter-terrorism work, and passing compromise legislation that I helped introduce to protect American families by keeping guns and explosives out of the hands of terrorists. We must make sure that FBI -- as well as local first responders, who are often on the front lines in responding to attacks -- have the resources to keep us safe."

Heitkamp also joined a bipartisan group of senators this week to introduce compromise legislation that would keep guns and explosives from terrorists and protect American families. Heitkamp began working with Republican Senator Susan Collins from Maine on the bipartisan compromise last week, and continued making adjustments through the weekend. The targeted bipartisan legislation incorporates commonsense proposals that would prevent those on the government's "No-Fly' list and the so-called "selectee' list from legally purchasing guns or explosives from licensed dealers. The legislation would also more effectively enable Americans who appear on the lists incorrectly to get off, and implement a "five-year look-back' provision to alert law enforcement if anyone who is, or was, entered into the broader Terrorist Screening Database attempts to or buys a gun or explosives from a licensed dealer.

To protect communities in North Dakota and across the country from national security threats, Heitkamp has supported practical, tough national security strategies -- such as preparing local emergency responders, who are often the first to respond to threats, and supporting sanctions to hold Iran's feet to the fire on its ballistic missile program and other destabilizing behavior.

Heitkamp's work to support strong national security policies includes:

Preparing first responders to handle terrorist threats: At a U.S. Senate hearing in February on the front-line response to terrorism, Heitkamp pressed police commissioners and first responders to explain what challenges remain in preparing responders in rural communities for the threat of terrorism. Heitkamp requested the hearing after the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris to make sure federal agencies are preparing first responders in small and rural communities with adequate resources, so North Dakota communities remain protected. Heitkamp has made first responder preparedness a priority through her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative.

Meeting with key Middle East leaders: To learn more about the threat posed by terrorist groups like ISIS, Heitkamp joined in an official Congressional trip in January to the Middle East and Vienna with seven other senators. During the six-day trip Heitkamp and the other senators visited with top officials and experts, including ambassadors and heads of state, in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel, and Austria about matters regarding regional security. They also met with International Atomic Energy Agency officials -- the international inspectors who are implementing the Iran nuclear deal -- and allies about fully implementing and enforcing the deal.

Pushing the Administration for strong Iran missile and terrorism sanctions: During a U.S. Senate hearing in May, Heitkamp urged Administration officials to guarantee that sanctions are used to punish Iran for its development of ballistic missiles and that the Iran nuclear deal is strictly enforced. Heitkamp stressed the importance of holding Iran accountable if it violates the agreement -- even incrementally. After Iran tested ballistic missile technology last year, Heitkamp called on the President to take strong action in response to the violations of international law. Two months later the Administration did as Heitkamp requested, imposing stricter sanctions on companies and individuals involved in developing Iran's ballistic missile program.

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