; Whereas, on November 13, 2015, ISIL carried out a coordinated attack on Paris, France, killing more than 129 people from at least 14 different countries, including American student Nohemi Gonzalez; Whereas, on November 16, 2015, Central Intelligence Agency Director Brennan warned, following ISIL's horrific terrorist in Paris, that the attack was likely not the only operation that ISIL has in the pipeline ; Whereas, on August 18, 2014, Pope Francis said that the international community would be justified in stopping ISIL; Whereas, on August 21, 2014, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dempsey stated that ISIL has an apocalyptic, end-of-days strategic vision and which will eventually have to be defeated ; Whereas, on September 16, 2014, former Secretary of Defense Hagel testified before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate that if left unchecked, ISIL will directly threaten our homeland and our allies ; Whereas, on September 17, 2014, during a hearing of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, Secretary of State Kerry stated that ISIL must be defeated. Period. End of story ; Whereas, on March 13, 2015, Central Intelligence Agency Director Brennan stated that ISIL is well-armed and well-financed. Its fighters are disciplined, committed, and battle-hardened. Left unchecked, the group would pose a serious danger not only to Syria and Iraq, but to the wider region beyond, including the threat of attacks in the homelands of the United States and our partners ; Whereas, on July 23, 2015, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Comey stated that [t]he threat that ISIL presents to the United States is very different in kind, in type, in degree than al Qaeda. ISIL is not your parent’s al Qaeda, it’s a very different model. And by virtue of that model, it’s currently the threat that we are worried about in the homeland most of all ; Whereas, on November 16, 2015, following the attacks on Paris, France, ISIL released a video threatening to strike America at its center in Washington