mr. hetfield said he was surprised that attacks in paris have resulted in more scrutiny for america's refugee program. you surprised that there is fear in this country over relocating syrians into this country? mr. rodriguez: there are enemies of the united states. those enemies of the united states are in syria. rep. buck: i was asking if you are surprised. mr. rodriguez: i know that the united states has enemies. whether they are in europe or syria. rep. buck: your point does not answer my question. are you surprised that americans are fearful over what happened in paris? mr. rodriguez: i am neither surprised by the fact that there are fearful americans -- i am not surprised by that or the fact that many americans want us to be a welcoming country to those who are victims of conflict and war. rep. buck: ok. let me tell you one of the reasons why americans are distrustful. we have a president who, after the murder of an ambassador in benghazi and the murder of three heroes in benghazi, four people in total, told the american people that the attack was the result of a video. we have a secreta

mr. hetfield.hank you, chairman gowdy, ranking member for honoring -- [inaudible] hias is the oldest refugee agency -- >> go mic isn't on. >> can hear me now? okay. thank you, chairman gowdy, ranking member lofgren and distinguished of the subcommittee for inviting me to speak here today at half of hias which is the oldest refugee agency in the world took we been reselling refugees since 1881, not just because it makes us feel better but because it saves lives. refugee resettlement have saved millions of lives since 1881 but not nearly enough. we are confronting the world's most horrific refugee crisis since world war ii with 69 displaced across the globe, 20% of them are c rating. link a conflict that has taken over 240,000 lives. without concern for more international assistance, countries like lebanon, jordan and turkey are beyond her saturation point with over 4 million syrians gaza refugees to risk their lives to flee for a second or a third time. the crisis fund attracted international attent

mr. hetfield said he was surprised that attacks in paris have resulted in more scrutiny for america's refugee program. you surprised that there is fear in this country over relocating syrians into this country? mr. rodriguez: there are enemies of the united states. those enemies of the united states are in syria. rep. buck: i was asking if you are surprised. mr. rodriguez: i know that the united states has enemies. rep. buck: your point does not answer my question. are you surprised that americans are fearful over what happened in paris? mr. rodriguez: i am neither surprised by the fact that there are fearful americans -- i am not surprised by that or the fact that many americans want us to be a welcoming country to those who are victims of conflict and war. rep. buck: ok. let me tell you one of the reasons why americans are distrustful. we have a president who, after the murder of an ambassador in benghazi and the murder of three heroes in benghazi, four people in total, told the american people that the attack was the result of a video. a secretary of state who immediately identified that i

mr. hetfield -- >> the time has expired. do want to give every member a chance and votes are imminent. i'm going -- >> i yield back. >> chair will recognize the gentleman from iowa. >> i thank the witnesses and direct my first question to mr. rodriguez. that is, when you do this extensive vetting process, do you take into account the religion of the applicants? >> we do not accept as that being a possible. in many cases it is a basis of persecution. but we do not disqualify anybody because of their faith. >> do you take into account -- do you ask them what is your religion? >> again, if that is part of the basis for their persecution, then we do inquire into that, sir. >> whether -- even though the law requires whether it is or isn't the basis for that that you are required to take into account religion. can you explain to me the data out here and what we're seeing happen in the real world? i came from there a week ago. i was in the kurdish region and over to the front lines as close as i could get to isis and into a refugee