As vacation winds down, Obama faces calls for stronger leadership on ISIS
(CNN) Washington - On President Barack Obama’s last day of a troubled vacation, politicians criticized his leadership and called for action in the growing threat of terrorist group ISIS.
“The President has got to come forward with a cohesive, comprehensive strategy, not only in Iraq, but also in Ukraine, also in other parts of the world. This is an administration - which the kindest word I can use is feckless - where they have not outlined a role that the United States of America has to play, and that’s a leadership role,” Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said on “Fox News Sunday.”
In the wake of the beheading of American journalist James Foley, administration officials made clear that they are shifting from defensive operations against ISIS in Iraq to weighing an attack on ISIS where they are strongest, in Syria. But politicians on both sides of the aisle are impatient for the President to construct a plan and consult with Congress on what many see as an imminent threat from ISIS, which calls itself the Islamic State and is called ISIL by some U.S. government officials.
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Lawmakers: Ukraine tensions prompt Cold War fears
(CNN) - Deadly violence, ongoing tensions and the deliberate downing of a passenger airplane. Though that turbulence is happening far away from American streets - in Eastern Ukraine - why should Americans worry?
One reason: renewed fears of a return to Cold War relations between the United States and Russia.
Two powerful members of Congress spoke on the matter during separate interviews on CNN's "State of the Union."
Lawmakers agree military base security must be reviewed
(CNN) – Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agreed Sunday that everything from security procedures to budget cuts must be reviewed in light of last week’s shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, which left four dead and 16 wounded.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said he’d like to have more military police on bases but doesn’t see how that’s possible with budget cuts like sequestration.
Lawmakers weigh in on search for Flight 370
(CNN) - As the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 focuses on the Indian Ocean, some members of Congress are putting pressure on the Malaysian government for better cooperation with the United States.
Rep. Patrick Meehan, a Republican from Pennsylvania and member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told CNN's Candy Crowley on “State of the Union” on Sunday that he wishes communication were better.
Lawmakers concerned over Iranian enrichment, split on more sanctions
(CNN) - After President Barack Obama said he would accept a peaceful nuclear program from Iran, including modest uranium enrichment, U.S. congressmen on the Homeland Security and Intelligence committees agreed Sunday that the concession complicates further negotiations.
"We can envision a comprehensive agreement that involves extraordinary constraints and verification mechanisms and intrusive inspections but permits Iran to have a peaceful nuclear program," Obama said Saturday at the Brookings Institution’s Saban Forum in Washington.
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Homeland Security chairman: Threat of terrorism spreading like 'wildfire' overseas
(CNN) - The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said the threat of terrorism overseas is "getting worse, not better."
"I personally see it spreading like a spiderweb, like a wildfire, through Northern Africa and the Middle East," Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, told CNN's Candy Crowley on "State of the Union."
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McCaul: TSA, law enforcement need better coordination
Washington (CNN) - House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said Sunday that Transportation Security Administration officers at the nation's airports need to work better with local law enforcement to help prevent incidents like Friday's shooting at Los Angeles International Airport.
"The coordination with the local police is key because, remember, TSA officers are not armed," the Texas Republican told CNN's Candy Crowley on "State of the Union."
McCaul: 50% of Syrian opposition are 'bad actors'
(CNN) - Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, reiterated his opposition to military involvement in Syria on Wednesday and raised questions about the rebel force.
McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront" that he's seen intelligence in briefings that shows half of the Syrian opposition has extremist elements.
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$355 million puts Rep. Issa at top of 50 richest lawmakers
Washington (CNN) – How many members of Congress does it take to count to a billion?
The top 12. At least according to The Hill's annual calculation of the 50 wealthiest members. Newly topped out by California Rep. Darrell Issa's $355.4 million, adding up his wealth with the next 11 richest of his compatriots totals $1.02 billion.
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McCaul: Senate bill 'candy thrown down there' for votes
(CNN) - As Congress prepared to return to immigration reform next week, the debate over the issue continued Sunday, with the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee saying the Senate bill just throws "a bunch of candy" at the border "to gain votes."
"What the Senate just passed was, again, a bunch of candy thrown down there - a bunch of assets thrown down there to gain votes, but without a methodical, smart border approach. We want a smart border; we also want a smart immigration plan - something that makes sense," Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, said on CBS's "Face the Nation."
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