U.S. House Approves Bill To Pause Syrian Refugee Plan

The House on Thursday passed legislation that would pause the Obama administration's plan to take in at least 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next year.
Lawmakers passed the bill 289-137 with 242 Republicans and 47 Democrats voting in favor. Two Republicans and 135 Democrats voted against the measure.

Proposed in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks, the GOP-sponsored bill would require the Homeland Security secretary, FBI director, and director of national intelligence to certify the completion of background checks for all refugees from Iraq and Syria and certify that they they don't threaten U.S. national security.

The bill, sponsored by House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Rep. Richard Hudson, R-North Carolina, was crafted just this week following last Friday's attacks after authorities said one of the eight terrorists involved had originated in Syria.

Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, both said earlier this week that the plan should be halted until the administration strengthens the vetting and verification process for incoming refugees.

President Obama, however, is sticking by the plan and defended it in a series of tweets on Wednesday.

The White House issued a veto threat Thursday on the bill, arguing that the legislation would introduce "unnecessary and impractical requirements" to help vulnerable people and it would provide "no meaningful additional security for the American people."

"It baffles me," Ryan told reporters Thursday morning about the veto threat.

It's unclear if or when the Senate will take up the bill, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, told reporters it wouldn't pass.

Congress is scheduled to go on a week-long recess next week for Thanksgiving.