If Reid is correct and the bill goes nowhere, the next option for Republicans is to add a provision into the budget that prevents the resettlement of Syrian refugees. Keating and Stephen F. Lynch, who said the additional screening by the chief National Intelligence Agency was a key point in leading to his support.
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Further, Senate minority leader Harry Reid has pledged to block the bill, taking advantage of the 60-vote supermajority required to start debate on legislation in the Senate. Reid told reporters on Thursday: “The problem is not with refugees”. “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.
Meanwhile White House officials are scrambling to revamp its message that the current system in place doesn’t pose a risk of bringing in terrorists posing as refugees – the fear raised in the wake of last week’s Islamic State attacks in Paris. “We must ensure that refugee coming here undergoes a rigorous vetting process before they step on american soil”. When asked about Obama’s veto threat, Reid responded, “Don’t worry, it won’t get passed”.
Instead, Senate Democrats seem to be focused on bipartisan legislation to be introduced by California Democrat Dianne Feinstein and Arizona Republican Jeff Flake which would tighten the visa waiver program, which allows citizens of 35 foreign countries to travel to the United States without obtaining a visa.
House Republican leaders expect the bill to receive yes votes from as many as 50 Democrats in the lower chamber. McConnell explained, “It’s clear that the American people are concerned about the Administration’s ability to properly vet thousands of individuals from Syria”. The White House called the measure an unnecessary obstacle to providing humanitarian relief to a highly vulnerable population, and President Obama has promised to veto it should it reach his desk.
“We shouldn’t turn our backs on them”, said Baldwin. The threat stated, “Given the lives at stake and the critical importance to our partners in the Middle East and Europe of American leadership in addressing the Syrian refugee crisis, if the president were presented with H.R. 4038, he would veto the bill”.
“If you prioritize who we let in”, said Johnson.
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House Speaker Paul Ryan told the press however, he believes “this is urgent. We can not and should not wait to act, not when our national security is at stake”.
