Three key homeland security bills pass House floor

The U.S. House of Representatives passed three key Homeland Security Committee bills on Tuesday.

Rep. John Katko (R-NY) introduced two bills, the Transportation Security Administration Reform and Improvement Act and the National Strategy to Combat Terrorist Travel Act of 2016. The former passed the House via unanimous voice vote, while the latter passed with unanimous bipartisan support by a vote of 392-0.

Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) introduced the third bill, entitled the Foreign Fighter Review Act of 2016, which passed the House with an even larger bipartisan vote of 397-0.

“Our nation is in the highest threat environment since 9/11, and we cannot sit on our hands while terrorists plot against us,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said. “Today the House acted to advance several important national security bills, including two aimed at preventing Islamist terrorists from infiltrating our country undetected and from recruiting Americans.”

McCaul added that the Katko and Hurd bills were drafted via recommendations made by the Task Force on Combating Terrorists and Foreign Fighter Travel. He said that the bills also included provisions to enhance security in the aviation sector.