Gowdy, Goodlatte, and Chaffetz Introduce Bill to Stop the Administration’s Plan Allowing Libyan Pilots and Nuclear Scientists to Train in U.S
Washington, D.C. – Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), and Oversight and Government Reform National Security Subcommittee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) today introduced the Protecting the Homeland Act (H.R. 5401) to stop the Obama Administration from lifting a longstanding prohibition on Libyans coming to the U.S. to attend flight school, to work in aviation maintenance or flight operations, or to study or seek training in nuclear science. In July, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved a final regulation to lift this decades-old policy. Once Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson signs this regulation, it will become effective unless further action is taken.
The prohibition was originally put in place in the 1980s after the wave of terrorist incidents involving Libyans. Not even two years after the U.S. consulate in Benghazi was attacked, which resulted in the deaths of four Americans, the Obama Administration justifies lifting this ban by claiming the United States’ relationship with Libya has “normalized.” However, the terror threat continues and numerous news reports document recent terror-related activities coming from Libya. Recently, the employees at the U.S. embassy in Tripoli were evacuated due to violence between rival militias near the facility. Since then, many foreign governments have closed their embassies in Libya and evacuated staff as the violence has spread throughout the country. Additionally, it has been reported that Islamist militias stole 11 commercial jetliners last month at the airport in Tripoli, and intelligence agencies have warned that they could be used in terrorist attacks.
Subcommittee Chairman Gowdy, Chairman Goodlatte, and Congressman Chaffetz released the statements below following the introduction of their bill to stop the Obama Administration’s policy reversal from taking effect.
Subcommittee Chairman Gowdy: “Considering the deteriorating situation in Libya, it is hard to understand why DHS is moving ahead with repealing this 30-year old rule. We still have not heard from the Administration why this policy is going to improve national security. Is post-revolutionary Libya secure enough to change the rules? Why now? This is a risk to our national security and compels us to act. Our legislation would codify the current regulation and prevent the Administration from unilaterally carrying out this change.”
Chairman Goodlatte: “Given the ongoing terrorist activity in Libya, it is unconscionable that the Obama Administration is carelessly forging ahead with its plan to allow Libyan pilots and nuclear scientists to train in the United States. The Obama Administration justifies its plan by claiming that the United States’ relationship with Libya has ‘normalized,’ but it is anything but normal. This summer, Americans working at the U.S. embassy in Tripoli were evacuated due to rival rebel groups battling each other for control of the area. And less than two years ago, the U.S. consulate in Benghazi was attacked by terrorists, leaving four Americans dead.
“Lifting this longstanding ban is not in the best interest of the American people and needlessly places our country at risk. The Protecting the Homeland Act will stop President Obama from implementing this foolish and dangerous plan so that we protect Americans and our national security from threats in Libya.”
Congressman Chaffetz: “Libya is in chaos. Violent threats in the region continue to grow. Even our embassy in Tripoli was evacuated due to militia violence close to the compound. Lifting the ban to allow Libyans to come to the U.S. to train in aviation and nuclear sciences is not only bad policy, but it threatens the safety of this country. I appreciate Chairmen Goodlatte and Gowdy for their leadership on this important issue.”
Text of the Protecting the Homeland Act can be found here. The House Judiciary Committee will markup this legislation on Wednesday.