U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., part of the congressional leadership as senior deputy majority whip, filed a resolution censuring President Barack Obama over his failure to implement the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act.
Ross announced plans to launch the censure resolution at the end of last month and filed it on Thursday. The bill, which passed through Congress, prevents residents of almost 40 countries who traveled to countries with high terrorist activity like Iran, Iraq and Syria since 2011 from going through the visa waiver program to come to the U.S.
On Thursday, Ross insisted that Obama was ignoring that law. U.S. Sec. of State John Kerry assured Iran recently that the administration would not stop Iranians coming to the U.S. on business interests from entering the nation.
“I introduced this censure resolution today because the president must be held accountable for acting clearly outside the rule of law,” Ross said. “The Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act passed the House last year not only as a stand-alone bill, but also a second time through the FY2016 Omnibus bill, both times with a veto-proof majority.
“By signing this legislation into law, the president took an oath to enact and uphold the laws within it,” Ross added. “However, he refuses to fulfill his constitutional duty as president, and has decided to take the law into his own hands and placate to Iran’s deceptive intentions by allowing foreigners tied to terrorist hotspots like Iran to enter the U.S. without going through the extra layer of security screening as required by this law. The president is clearly unconcerned with the safety of our nation, the American people and our allies. Our commander-in-chief refuses to close vulnerabilities in the Visa Waiver Program that have been identified by both Republicans and Democrats. In fact, his deliberate and dangerous actions put us directly in harm’s way and at risk for terrorist attacks.
“President Obama has repeatedly turned his back on the American people, but I will not relent on protecting my fellow Americans or those who sent me to Washington to represent them,” Ross added. “I will continue to do everything within my power to hold this president accountable for his egregious and reckless behavior.”
Ross is not the only member of the Republican leadership concerned over the matter. U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., broached the topic with Obama when they met on Tuesday and U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., also went on the attack over the issue.
At the end of last month, White House Spokesman Josh Earnest defended the administration’s position.
“We want to make sure that we are doing everything that is necessary to keep the country safe. That is the top priority,” Earnest said. “We also don’t want to unnecessarily disadvantage American businesses that are trying to do business overseas because, ultimately, that’s good for our economy and it’s good for creating jobs here in the United States.”
This is not the only censure measure against Obama Ross is backing. Early last month, Ross co-sponsored a measure censuring Obama over his use of executive action to push gun control from U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss. Nor is Ross the only Florida Republican with a censure measure against Obama. Last month, U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., brought out a measure censuring Obama’s handling of foreign affairs. Yoho is also backing Palazzo’s resolution.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
