Senate set for procedural vote Wednesday on American Safety Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act

WASHINGTON — A piece of legislation long sought by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), the American Safety Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act, H.R. 4038, will come before the Senate Wednesday according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, authored the Senate companion, S.2300, in November. The Senate will take a key procedural vote on Wednesday to proceed to the bill. Johnson urged senators to vote in favor of proceeding.

“I have long called for passage of this important legislation,” Johnson said, “and I am pleased the Senate at last will consider the American Safety Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act. I again called for consideration of this bill two weeks ago after learning of the arrest of two Iraqi refugees with suspected associations to terrorism — one with connections to Milwaukee.” 

“Just as principal executive and financial officers of public companies must certify to the federal government the accuracy of their financial reports, this bill requires the heads of several government agencies to certify the adequacy of their vetting and background investigations of refugees from Iraq and Syria. I look forward to debating and voting on this important legislation this week.”