Senate set to vote on American Safety Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act next week.
WASHINGTON – A piece of legislation long sought by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), the American Safety Against Foreign Enemies [SAFE] Act, H.R. 4038, will be taken up by the Senate next week, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, authored the Senate companion, S.2300, in November. The American SAFE Act requires that supplemental certifications and background investigations be completed prior to the admission of certain refugees into the United States. Chairman Johnson had this response to the upcoming vote:
“I have long called for passage of this important legislation, and I am pleased the Senate at last will consider the American Safety Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act. I again called for consideration of this bill just last week after learning of the arrest of two Iraqi refugees with suspected associations to terrorism — one with connections to Milwaukee.
“Just as principal executive and financial officers of public companies must certify to the federal government the accuracy of their financial reports, this bill requires the heads of several government agencies to certify the adequacy of their vetting and background investigations of refugees from Iraq and Syria. I look forward to debating and voting on this important legislation next week.”
###