Congress is slowly coming around to the need to enhance national security, according to Virginia Rep. Dave Brat, which makes him optimistic about four bills he proposed this month that would tighten immigration controls and cut off funding for terrorist groups.

“Even Paul Ryan is messaging this week that we have to crack down on illegal immigration, as he’s running his own race,” Brat told the Washington Examiner, referring to the primary election campaign Speaker Ryan is waging against conservative challenger Paul Nehlen.