Portman on terror attack in France
Washington, D.C. – This morning, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), a member of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, appeared on Fox News Channel’s America’s Newsroom in reaction to today’s terrorist attack and offered condolences to the people of France.
He also discussed the new Congress and the bipartisan opportunity to approve the Keystone XL pipeline to give a boost to the economy and create 40,000 new jobs.
Excerpts follow
On Terror Attack in France:
Portman: “It is a chilling scene, and it reminds us that this fight continues against radical Islam. We need to redouble our efforts here at home, but at the moment we need to stand with our ally, France. As you know, Martha, France has been active with us in fighting terrorism. Specifically, they provided air support with regard to the fight against ISIS and refueling capacity. They have stood with us and with other members of the allied group fighting terrorism. We need to stand with them. Our hearts and prayers go out to those families.”
Martha MacCallum: “We had heard months ago that there were at least 100 Americans who had passports who had gone to train in Syria and in the Middle East. How are we doing on that? Are we cracking down on those passports? Are we getting any closer for the Homeland Security Committee in learning who those individuals are? Because we don't want something like what’s happening in Paris to happen here at home.”
On Keystone:
Martha MacCallum: “The White House has already laid down the gauntlet on two big issues, Keystone and health care, and said, ‘Don't even try it.’ The President is going to veto anything you try to do in that regard.”
Portman: “It’s too bad that the President has taken that posture. You all talked earlier about Keystone. Here is the opportunity for us to give the economy a shot in the arm. All of us are concerned about the fact wages are flat, even declining. This is way to add $3 billion to the U.S. economy. It is about 40,000 new jobs. The White House itself through its State Department has said that this is safer than moving this oil by truck or by train. It’s better for the environment in that case. So this is opportunity for us to do something on a bipartisan basis. Bill talked about a poll earlier, Martha, that 68% of the American people support this. What is really interesting is more than 60 senators support it. In other words it is bipartisan and it’s going to go to the President. I hope he will sign it.”