Langevin defends
anti-refugee vote. Progressive Dems refute him
EDITOR’S NOTE: This entry combines
two articles that ran in Rhode Island’s Future. The first, by RIF Editor Bob
Plain describes Bob’s conversation with Rep. Jim Langevin about his vote to
support HR 4038, a Republican bill that would make it virtually impossible for
the US to provide safe haven to refugees from the Syrian civil war. The second
article from the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats blasts Langevin for this
vote. I have also included Rep. Langevin’s official news release stating his
reasons for voting for the bill. – W. Collette
By Bob Plain in
Rhode Island’s Future
Congressman Jim Langevin
defending his support of a GOP-backed bill that would add more layers of
bureaucracy to the process of accepting Syrian and Iraqi refugees.
He said it wasn’t difficult to
vote against President Obama, who strongly urged Democrats not to support the
Republican-backed bill. “All of my decisions are based on the merits. They
don’t belong to a particular party or special interest.”
Langevin, who told me he didn’t
see State Sen. Elaine Morgan’s comments about Islam and Muslim refugees, said
he thinks the United States should accept more Syrian refugees than the 10,000
Obama has called for – and that he thinks the government should add resources
to ensure the refugee process moves quicker.
“I strongly support additional
resources that will expedite the process,” he said. “The best thing we can do
to make sure we’re not slowing the process down is put more resources into
vetting so we can speed it up.”
When asked how he thinks Rhode
Islanders feel about the issue, he said, “I’ve heard from people on both sides
of this issue.”
By
The Rhode
Island Progressive Democrats vehemently opposed bill H.R. 4038, the American
Security Against Foreign Enemies SAFE Act. On November 19th this bill
passed the House by a vote of 289-137, with only 47 Democrats voting in favor
of it. Sadly, Representative Langevin was one
of them.
This bill
is a continuation of an overreach by the right wing conservative majority that
has over taken the House of Representatives.
The vetting process for
refugees entering this country is already more than sufficient. These
additional layers of bureaucracy are completely unnecessary. They put an undue
burden on our security departments, and they will unnecessarily increase the
time that it takes for Syrian refugees to be admitted.
And with a military budget of $600 billion
we should all wonder why the implementation of effective and expedited
screening isn’t already in place.
It can
take years for refugees to be allowed to enter this country. With these
additional redundant and unnecessary security checks it could delay the process
even longer. President Obama has promised to veto the legislation and one would
think that a Democratic Representative of a supposedly blue state would support
the President on such an important issue.
By siding
with the Republican right wing majority, Langevin sets himself apart from the
compassionate and understanding legislators who know that there needs to be a
balance with security and timeliness in getting refugees vetted and resettled
in this country.
His actions show, once again that the D next to his name means
nothing. He has shamed the state, our founding father Roger Williams, and all
of the great people of Rhode Island who want to do more for the people of
Syria.
The people
of Syria have no choice but to leave their homeland due in large part to the
United States destabilizing the region in the first place. The people of Syria
are not Daesh. They are civilians who want to live in peace, who want to have
shelter, who want to save the lives of their children.
Langevin’s
reaction to this crisis is just another reason why 2016 should be his last year
in Congress.
LANGEVIN
STATEMENT ON AMERICAN SAFE ACT
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), a
senior member of the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, released
the following statement in response to House passage, by a vote of 289 to 137,
of H.R. 4038, the American SAFE Act of 2015:
“The safety and security of my constituents and all
Americans is my first priority, and the American people should feel completely
confident that we, as a Congress and as a nation, are doing everything in our
power to protect our people and our freedom from the threat of terrorism and
all those who seek to do us harm. However, I do not believe that protecting our
national security precludes us from showing compassion to the refugees fleeing
unspeakable violence and oppression in Syria, Iraq and other conflict zones. I
know that we can both protect the American people and stay true to the values
of the United States, a nation of immigrants that has been a beacon of hope for
those who seek freedom, opportunity and tolerance, as well as protection from
persecution.
“I voted today in favor of additional safeguards that will
ensure the highest level of security screening for those who wish to enter this
country and live by the American principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness. Existing refugee screening standards are already rigorous and
include biometric record checks and extensive interviews with specially-trained
DHS officers, with preference given to the most vulnerable refugees. The
process, which typically takes 18 to 24 months, is designed with a litany of
checks and balances by an inter-agency team that includes the State Department,
the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and the National
Counterterrorism Center. Today’s legislation would additionally require the
FBI, Homeland Security Department and Director of National Intelligence to
certify to Congress that any refugee from Syria or Iraq does not pose a threat
to the United States. I believe these requirements will provide a reasonable
new layer of assurance to our protocols, and I will do whatever I can to ensure
that the resources are available to carry them out in a way which does not
close or delay the resettlement process for those refugees who meet our
criteria.
“The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of American independence,
reminds us of our roots. ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses
yearning to breathe free.’ We cannot forget those powerful words or what they
mean to us, to our forefathers and to the world. We cannot let fear, hate or
prejudice destroy our way of life. This great nation, a melting pot from its
infancy, will continue to welcome all those who flee persecution and seek
freedom. With our friends and allies around the world, we stand united against
terrorism.”