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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; U.S. Sen. Bob Casey wants to bolster the fight against ISIS, telling Congress to stop playing politics and better protect the homeland.</p><p>Casey, D-Scranton, sent a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, urging Congress to take &#8220;common sense steps&#8221; before the end of the year to improve homeland security and advance the fight against the terrorist group.</p><p>&#8220;Instead of playing politics, Congress owes the American people action on measures that could substantially decrease the likelihood of a terrorist exploiting the Visa Waiver Program to enter the country, or buying weapons or explosives to use here in the United States,&#8221; Casey said in a phone interview Wednesday. &#8220;In the Middle East, one way we can attack ISIS is by attacking its financial support &#8212; cutting off the money will significantly diminish their ability to operate.&#8221;</p><p>Casey said the recent attacks by ISIS against targets outside of Iraq and Syria are deeply concerning and demands a swift response from the U.S. Congress.</p><p>&#8220;Although some progress has been made to diminish the group&#8217;s territorial holdings inside Iraq and Syria, it is clear that they have the capability and intent to strike our partners in the region and in Europe, and they have declared their desire to attack the U.S. homeland,&#8221; Casey said. &#8220;We have a responsibility to consider legislation and advance nominees that will contribute to this fight.&#8221;</p><p>Casey&#8217;s letter laid out five steps Congress can take to contribute to the fight against ISIS:</p><p>&#8226; Immediately confirm several nominees for national security positions that have been stalled.</p><p>&#8226; Prioritize efforts to dismantle the financial networks that support ISIS activities.</p><p>&#8226; Consider legislative proposals to meaningfully address potential homeland security vulnerabilities that terrorists could exploit including attacking the loophole on gun purchasing weapons and explosives.</p><p>&#8226; Make reasonable modifications to the Visa Waiver Program.</p><p>&#8226; Schedule time early in the next session for a robust debate about the strategy against ISIS, as well as the Authorization for the Use of Military Force, passed by Congress on Sept. 14, 2001, which authorizes the use of the U.S. Armed Forces against those responsible for the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The authorization granted the President the authority to use all &#8220;necessary and appropriate force&#8221; against those whom he determined &#8220;planned, authorized, committed or aided&#8221; the Sept. 11 attacks, or who harbored said persons or groups</p><p>In his letter to McConnell, Casey said the U.S. should use its existing authority to sanction individuals and entities that support ISIS and to target financial facilitators and infrastructure like oil tankers for airstrikes.</p><p>&#8220;We must close the legal loophole that allows terrorists to purchase weapons and explosives,&#8221; Casey said. &#8220;It defies logic that an individual suspect on the FBI terrorism watch list can legally purchase a lethal weapon or explosives, like those used to kill innocent civilians in Paris earlier this month.&#8221;</p><p>Casey said there is evidence that some of the terrorists who executed the Paris attacks were citizens of European countries and traveled to and from ISIS-held territory without detection.</p><p>&#8220;I am concerned that there may not be adequate protections under the Visa Waiver Program to ensure a potential terrorist cannot use his or her European passport to gain entry to the U.S. without proper screening,&#8221; Casey wrote.</p><p>Casey said whenever military personnel are deployed &#8212; potentially in harm&#8217;s way &#8212; they deserve our full engagement and support.</p><p>&#8220;Refusing to debate this issue because the options are complex and difficult is an abdication of our most important duty as lawmakers and leaders: to put the security of this nation ahead of partisan politics,&#8221; Casey said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Casey </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Casey_Bob_2013_toned.jpg</photo0><caption0>Casey </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Casey urges Congress to take tougher stand on ISIS