Fitzpatrick: ISIS Growing Stronger, Syria Chaotic

Press Release

Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8) conducted a six-day visit to the Middle East where he worked to survey the U.S. -- Coalition efforts to curb ISIS financing and met with Syrian opposition forces funded by the Administration.

"ISIS is getting stronger. We see it on TV today where ISIS flags were being raised along the Syrian-Turkish border and I heard it from those engaged in the region," said Fitzpatrick. "The situation in Syria is chaotic and ISIS, unlike any other terror organization, is successfully self-financing through the control of nearly 100,000 barrels of oil a day, bringing them close to $3 million in sales. If we want to stop ISIS, we need to stop their money."

In meetings with Qatari cabinet officials, Syrian resistance leaders, journalists and American military forces, Fitzpatrick discussed efforts to choke ISIS' funding by halting its ability to develop or sell captured oil.

"Stopping the flow of money to ISIS limits the group's ability to expand its would-be state, weaken its recruiting efforts and, ultimately, reduce the amount of military intervention needed to destroy it. That was the focus of my trip," said Fitzpatrick.

In September, Fitzpatrick introduced the Isolate ISIS Act [H.R. 5431] -- bipartisan legislation would cut off income to ISIS by codifying sanctions and penalties on any institutions engaging in trade or commerce with the terror group, including individuals and corporations in the United States. Last week, the Treasury Dept. took similar action to crack down on terror financing, including placing sanctions on 11 individuals accused of providing support to ISIS.

Meeting with Hadi al-Bahra, President of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, Fitzpatrick heard concerns about moderate rebels fighting ISIS in Syria.

"The funds we voted on in Congress to strengthen the Syrian Rebels is making its way to the battlefield, but while they appear to be committed, they are still trying to better organize themselves," added Fitzpatrick. "Forces have bombs incoming from three directions: the Assad regime, U.S. - Coalition forces and ISIS. They need better communication and coordination to push back against ISIS' growth."

Fitzpatrick is the vice chair of the House Financial Services subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation and will report the findings of his trip to the committee as well as Treasury Dept. officials Tuesday afternoon and evening.

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