A bill introduced by freshman Congressman Michael Guest has passed the Committee on Homeland Security.
The bill known as the Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2019 would allow the Department of Homeland Security to develop and conduct prep exercises for law enforcement officers to help detect and prevent terrorist travel.
During the Committee on Homeland Security’s markup of his bill, Congressman Guest expressed his appreciation for the committee’s bipartisan support and said he believes the bill will help make America safer.
The Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2019 has received bipartisan praise with Democratic Congressman Donald Payne (NJ-10) welcoming the adoption of the bill in a statement during the committee markup.
“I am pleased that the modest modifications we proposed were accepted by Congressman Guest and we are able to work together to enhance this timely homeland security measure,” Payne said.
The Act passed the committee along with three other Republican-led bills. Ranking Member Mike Rogers thanked the authors of these bills in a statement.
“Each of these bills makes critical improvements to DHS programs that will make America a safer place,” Rogers said. “I am pleased that the committee was able to consider and advance all three pieces of legislation and I now look forward to their swift passage in the House. I want to thank Reps. Walker, Higgins, and Guest for their leadership on these important issues.”
When originally introducing the bill, Guest said on average, the Department of Homeland Security stops 10 known or suspected terrorists each day who are attempting to enter the U.S.
