Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would enhance the Department of Homeland Security’s counterterrorism efforts.
The Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act would require an evaluation of the threat posed to the United States by individuals in Syria with ties to Foreign Terrorist Organizations or a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization.
Foreign jihadist networks and homegrown violent extremists continue to be a serious threat to U.S. security. There have been more than 50 extremism cases since April 2021. Many involve U.S. Department of Justice convictions of people who have provided material support to foreign terrorist organizations.
U.S. Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), House Committee on Homeland Security member introduced the bill and U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence chairman, and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) are among the cosponsors.
“With the fall of the brutal Assad regime in Syria and a potential resurgence of the Islamic State and al Qaeda in the region, terror threats abroad continue to present a persistent and evolving threat to the homeland,” U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), committee chairman, said. “From the threat of inspired homegrown violent extremism and lone wolves to foreign terror cells lying in wait, we cannot afford to have a complacent security posture.”