{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-comments-resettlement-syrian-refugees", "Fortenberry Comments on Resettlement of Syrian Refugees", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Jeff Fortenberry", "F000449", "fortenberry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) today made the following statement regarding resettling Syrian refugees in the United States:\nMy first responsibility is to keep America safe. A rapidly expanding Syrian refugee policy could create conditions for domestic tragedy. In the wake of the horrific attacks in Paris, America needs a well ordered asylum process, not one that is rushed and could compromise our nation's safety. ISIL has now put Washington in its crosshairs. We must not allow Paris to be repeated on our shores.\nSyrian refugees are fleeing a maelstrom of violence, much of it perpetrated by ISIL. Humanitarian concerns can be met without jeopardizing our security. Any proper asylum process must strengthen robust security screening measures. To this end, I have cosponsored the Refugee Resettlement Oversight and Security Act. This legislation halts the administration's Syrian refugee policy to ensure the rigorous implementation and proper prioritization of immigration oversight measures.\nThe Refugee Resettlement Oversight and Security Act (H.R. 3573) gives Congress necessary oversight for the U.S. refugee program. It would codify vigorous additional security measures for refugees, and require approval by both the House and Senate of any refugee resettlement program. The measure would give Congress the authority to block any insufficient proposals put forward by the Administration, and seeks to prioritize the resettlement of persecuted religious minorities.\nFortenberry is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-comments-resettlement-syrian-refugees"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.610030885785818, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}