U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (Photo: Andrew Beckett)
A bill halting the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the U.S. is headed to the Senate, and a Wisconsin Republican is optimistic it will pass the chamber early next month.
The bill passed the U.S. House on Thursday and the Senate is expected to take it up after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. While Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said there’s no chance it will pass in his chamber, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) said in Grand Chute Friday that’s he’s still hopeful it will have a chance. “I’ve talked to a couple different Democratic Senators who want to work with me on a Senate companion…maybe we can improve it,” Johnson said.
The bill would stop the resettlement of Syrian refugees until national security officials certify that individuals do not pose a threat to the country. Johnson said the U.S. already has a “pretty robust” vetting process for refugees, and the bill would just make sure that’s being followed. He also suggested the nation could look at prioritizing certain groups of refugees, such as women and children, or those with family already in the country who can financially support them.
President Obama has come out against the bill, which passed the House with a veto-proof majority. Johnson said he’s hopeful the same can happen in the Senate.
Contributed by Jeff Flynt, WTAQ