Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, issued the following statement on the Paris attacks and the admission of Syrian refugees into the United States:

“I extend my sincerest condolences and prayers to all the victims and families impacted by last week’s horrific attacks in Paris. Regrettably, the tragedy in Paris has illustrated for the rest of the world what happens when would-be terrorists believe they can enter a country undetected.

“While President Obama is attempting a fragmented strategy to combat ISIS, the rest of the world is coming together to eliminate this threat. This is not the time to let our guard down.

“Thus, I vehemently oppose the admission of Syrian refugees into the United States without a more substantial vetting process. I stand firmly behind Texas Governor Abbott and his decision that the state of Texas will refuse any incoming Syrian refugees. Following the Paris attacks, it is clear that the U.S. lacks a comprehensive procedure to perform adequate and thorough background checks on refugees—opening our borders and citizens up to real danger.

“There is no single entity in charge of coordinating the refugee admittance process—the process for refugee applicants is split between at least five different federal agencies. This lack of accountability only increases vulnerability. We must do all we can to ensure the safety of American citizens.”