It was an act of pure evil. On what should have been a quiet Sunday morning, Americans instead woke to the jarring news of a deadly terrorist attack in Orlando. As a nation, we join the Orlando community and the families of the victims in mourning those who were lost and praying for healing. Sadly, it is the latest in a string of terror attacks here in America – plots that have not been carried out by foreign terrorists but by Americans, against Americans, on American soil. It is a stark reminder that the radical beliefs of terrorist groups, like ISIS, are a threat to our freedoms.
The families and loved ones of the victims, FBI investigators, and Members of Congress are all searching for the same answer – what motivated Omar Mateen to kill 49 people and wound 53 others? We know he pledged allegiance to ISIS, but investigators are still combing through evidence to determine whether he was in contact with known or suspected terrorists or directly linked to terrorist organizations. I continue to stay in close contact with FBI and law enforcement officials as we gather more information about the attacker’s radicalization and background.
Given the reach of social media and the internet, the radicalization of terrorists in the United States is a grave concern that must be tackled head on. Currently, the FBI has roughly 1,000 active ISIS probes in the United States, and those are just the ones we know about. The House of Representatives has already passed nine bills focused on counterterrorism and combatting this trend of radicalization. However, to the detriment of every American, they sit untouched in the Senate.
It’s critical that the United States be prepared for the challenges we face. With my support, the House passed the Countering Terrorist Radicalization Act, a package of three, widely bipartisan bills previously passed by the House. By passing these bills yet again, the House sends a clear message that action is needed immediately by the Senate to further strengthen counterterrorism tools. Additionally, I am a member of the Task Force on National Security, which recently unveiled a policy agenda aimed at protecting our country, defeating terrorists, tackling new threats, and defending freedom. This plan, and the 67 recommendations for Congress and the President, is available online at better.gop.
The United States must remain steadfast in our efforts to root out Islamist extremism and the ideology that fuels the growth of homegrown terrorism and hate-driven acts against Americans. As your representative, I will not stop pushing for solutions to protect our communities. Innocent American lives were taken at the hands of a terrorist, and while this attack will forever change the lives of many, we cannot allow it to define us as a nation. America has never shied away from a challenge, and we will not back down now in the fight against terrorism.
Congressman Bob Goodlatte
