Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX-31) released the following statement in regards to President Obama’s address to the nation on Sunday night.

“President Obama needs to wake up and realize that we are at war. When he took office in 2009, he stopped using the term ‘War on Terror’ because he wanted to bury his head in the sand and ignore the fact that radical Islamic terrorists that seek the destruction of the western world have waged war against the United States and our allies. These murderous thugs are seeking any way possible to infiltrate our great nation. Their Caliphate calls for the destruction of our livelihood, freedoms, and overall existence.”

“I will not stand by and allow these terrorist to infiltrate our homeland. We must take the fight to them, to their home base, and destroy their operations. We cannot, and I will not, allow them to bring the fight to American soil. That is why I am in support of stricter regulations on our visa program and, blocking refugees from Syria and Iraq from coming to America. I supported legislation that prevents admission to the United States of any proposed Syrian or Iraqi refugee until the nation’s top security officials unanimously certify that each individual does not represent a security threat. It makes an already thorough process, all done outside of the United States, more secure by putting in place the most robust national-security vetting process in history for any refugee population.”

“Unfortunately, what we heard last night from the President is more of the same failed policies that have allowed ISIS to grow even stronger. President Obama believes his strategy is working, and that gun control is the answer. Stricter gun laws in America, and leading from behind on the global stage, will do nothing to win the war on terror. In this time of increased global threats, with the recent terrorist attacks in San Bernardino and around the world, I am committed to keeping Texans safe. I will continue to support all efforts to make secure our homeland.”

Rep. Carter represents Texas District 31, which includes Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the free world. He serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, is on the Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice and Science and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

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