Ratcliffe Named to Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel
TX 4th Congressional District
Press Release: Today, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the creation of a bipartisan Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel in response to the threat from extremists fighting overseas and the danger they pose to the U.S. homeland.
Comprised of five Republicans and three Democrats, the Task Force will assess the U.S. government’s efforts to obstruct terrorist travel and to keep violent extremists from entering the United States. The Task Force will meet with government agencies, top officials, outside experts, and others to generate policy solutions and develop legislative recommendations to mitigate the threat.
This task force includes U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX), who said:
As a former terrorism prosecutor, I can attest that America cannot be a nation of ideals while sitting idly on our hands and pretending the threats of violent Islamist extremists do not exist. America must lead against this aggression, and I am grateful to be a part of this task force dedicated to fighting terrorism.
Ratcliffe has firsthand experience combating terrorism. As the special prosecutor in U.S. v. Holy Land Foundation, he convicted individuals who were funneling money to Hamas behind the front of a charitable organization.
Other members on the Task Force will include: Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., Republican Lead; Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., Democratic Lead; Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas; Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., Rep. Martha McSally, R-Arizona.; Rep. Donald Payne, Jr., D-N.J.; R-Texas; Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas.