Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA-1) has introduced the International Conflicts of Concern Act, a bill to protect the United States by establishing a framework to temporarily restrict the travel of individuals to countries of conflict where they may radicalize and return to the U.S. to carry out an attack.

“Terrorism is an ever-evolving threat, and groups such as ISIS have been vigilant in recruiting foreign nationals to join them in spreading terror around the world,” Wittman said. “Just this week, the FBI arrested individuals in Minneapolis and San Diego who were allegedly conspiring to support and even join ISIS cells in the Middle East. This is clearly a very real threat. It is critical that we have in place a mechanism to reduce the risk of U.S. nationals traveling overseas and receiving training that in turn may be used to perpetrate violence against American citizens.”    

The International Conflicts of Concern Act would require the president to designate a country as a “country of conflict concern” if it allows foreign terrorist organizations to engage in armed conflict, or if the president deems it in the interest of U.S. national security to restrict travel. The legislation would prohibit the travel of unauthorized personnel as well as the distribution of material support to entities engaged in armed conflict within any country designated as a country of conflict concern. The bill would also automatically designate Syria as a country of conflict concern for one year. Perpetrators would be subject to both civil and criminal penalties which include up to a 20-year prison sentence. This legislation would still allow for legitimate travel by licensed humanitarian aid workers and other groups cleared by the U.S. government.

“Our strategy to combat groups such as ISIS must be a comprehensive one, and this can be a part of that effort,” Wittman continued. “Recruitment of foreign nationals fuels the strategies of these groups. We must not ignore the threat this recruitment represents or the strategic value in undercutting this facet of their efforts.”

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee.

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