The heartbreaking attacks in Paris are a reminder that the United States, working with our international partners, must provide the leadership and commitment necessary to destroy ISIS and halt Bashar al-Assad’s mass atrocities—the causes of the world’s most serious terrorist threat and the most significant refugee crisis since WWII.

America has a long history of providing safe haven for many of the world’s most vulnerable refugees. Yet, we must ensure that we do not allow terrorists to exploit refugee resettlement to gain entry to the United States. Our top priority must remain the safety of the American people.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security told Congress that they do not currently have the necessary intelligence to properly vet refugees from Syria. To protect the American people, I support legislation in the House to place a hold on any further resettlement until these determinations can be made. It stipulates that refugees from Iraq and Syria may only be admitted if the Department of Homeland Security, the Director of the FBI, and the Director of National Intelligence certify to Congress that the refugee is not a security threat to the American people.

Ultimately, the Syrian refugee crisis cannot be solved through resettlement. Rather, America must lead a global coalition to address the core of this crisis: ISIS must be dismantled and Assad removed, so Syrians can live safely in their homeland.

The first responsibility of the Federal Government is to keep the American people safe. This will continue to be my priority, and I will continue to urge the Administration to establish a broader and more effective strategy to destroy ISIS and solve the Syrian refugee crisis.