US Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI)
Wisconsin Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) was one of 47 Democrats who supported a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday, which would create new roadblocks to admitting Syrian refugees into the country.
Dubbed the “American SAFE Act of 2015,” the proposal would require more detailed background checks for refugees from nations where the Islamic extremist group ISIS is operating, including Syria and Iraq. That includes requiring federal intelligence, security, and law enforcement agencies to work together to make sure those seeking entry into the U.S. do not pose a danger. If passed into law, it would effectively halt the admission of refugees while the new security policies are developed.
In a statement, Kind said “while the current process for Syrian refugees to enter the country is extensive, there are additional common sense actions we can take to make it more secure.”
Kind said “the legislation today strikes a good balance between protecting our national security while not implementing draconian policies that go against the values on which our country was founded. There are no provisions in the legislation that prohibit refugees from entering the US, it does not defund the refugee program or jeopardize our government funding, and it does not discriminate based on religious affiliation.”
Wisconsin’s two other Democratic members of Congress voted against the bill, while all Republicans voted for the measure. It now heads to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain. The White House has already threatened a veto, although it did pass the House with a veto-proof 289-137 vote.