As a Member of Congress I have a responsibility to keep our nation as safe and secure as possible. That includes ensuring those who are coming to our country are doing so in a way that is safe, legal, and productive to society. Recently, we witnessed a refugee resettlement in Wisconsin’s Third District where elected officials were not involved in the discussions of resettlement and the U.S. Department of State could not confirm the extent of the background investigations conducted on the intended refugees.

That is why I recently introduced the Contacting All Local Legislators (CALL) Act, which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require elected officials to be notified of the potential resettlement of refugees in their state. Specifically, this bill will require the Department of State to notify Members of the House of Representatives representing the Congressional district within the state where the resettlement is planned, Senators representing the state, and the applicable state legislative elected officials prior to the resettlement.

In addition to the CALL Act, I have taken multiple measures to address some of the challenges associated with refugee resettlements. I co-introduced the Community Assent for Refugee Entry (CARE) Act to grant state and local governments the authority to reject federal refugee resettlements for their respective jurisdictions. I also sent a letter to the U.S. Department of State requesting a detailed report of the vetting procedures conducted on the refugees intended for Eau Claire.

We are a nation of laws, and we must ensure that those who wish to immigrate or resettle here do so legally and are not threats to the safety and security of the U.S. Know that I will always put the wellbeing of the American people and our communities first.