Countering Terrorist Radicalization Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Countering Terrorist Radicalization Act.

I want to thank the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Chairman McCaul; Mr. Katko; and Mr. Loudermilk for joining the legislation that I promoted and we passed in this House by a large bipartisan majority.

Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago, a strong bipartisan group of Members passed my legislation, H.R. 4820, the Combating Terrorist Recruitment Act.

It is hard to believe that almost a year has passed since the horrific shootings at two military installations in Chattanooga, Tennessee, my hometown and the town in which I proudly represent those great people in the United States House of Representatives. As many may remember, four marines and one sailor were killed in the attack while several others were wounded.

Just this past December, following the FBI investigation, Director James Comey concluded that the shootings ``were motivated by foreign terrorist organization propaganda.''

We have seen this pattern repeat in the evil attack in Orlando as well as the attacks in San Bernardino, Paris, and Brussels. We need to use every tool in our toolbox to combat Islamic extremism.

The Combating Terrorist Recruitment Act section of the bill implements one key recommendation made by the Homeland Security Committee's bipartisan task force specifically designed to counter terrorist and foreign fighter travel. While it doesn't forbid DHS from countering all forms of extremism, the bill does provide examples of how DHS can fulfill the requirement, such as counter-messaging foreign terrorist organizations that are actively recruiting in our country at an alarming rate.

This bipartisan legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to amplify testimonials of former extremists and defectors to fight the propaganda and recruitment of terrorist groups like ISIS.

Foreign terrorists are using technology to radicalize Americans at a troubling pace that continues to increase. We must combat this.

More than 250 Americans have traveled or attempted to travel to fight with jihadists in Syria and Iraq, and the FBI states that there are open counterterrorism investigations in all 50 States, mostly ISIS- related. Many of these individuals were pulled in by terrorist propaganda.

ISIS is luring Americans with false promises that do not reflect true reality on the ground in places like Syria and Iraq. The true reality centers on fear, suffering, and the murder of innocent people throughout the region and around the world.

Several recent defectors from ISIS have admitted that joining the group was a terrible mistake. One young fighter said that he found it very hard to live in the region and no longer believes the group represents the religion.

I must state that we must do all we can to amplify the messages from these disillusioned terrorists. We are doing this with the State Department. We need to pass this bundle of bills. We need to come together, Mr. Speaker, as Americans to fight radical Islamic terrorism now. The American people deserve no less.

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