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WAS INVESTED IN THIS MONEY AND
I'M GLAD THE RANKING MEMBER
TALKED ABOUT THOSE ISSUES TO
START TO PUT US ON BETTER
FOOTING FOR THAT.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
WELL, MR.
SPEAKER, I'M READY TO CLOSE.
MR. SPEAKER, I BELIEVE MANY
VALID POINTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN
SUPPORT OF H.R. 754, THE
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT
FOR F.Y. 2011.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK MR.
ROGERS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND
FOR WORKING TOGETHER IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY TO DO WHAT'S
RIGHTS FOR OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY TO MAKE SURE WE DO OUR
JOB AND OVERSIGHT OF ALL OF THE
INTELLIGENCE AREAS AND I THINK
THIS -- HOPEFULLY WE WILL
CONTINUE -- WE WILL CONTINUE
THIS RELATIONSHIP AS WE GO
FORWARD.
NOW, I ALSO RESERVE MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN IS
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND -- I'D
LIKE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
A MEMBER -- DISTINGUISHED
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, MR.
NUNES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED.
I'D LIKE TO SAY
AND RANKING MEMBER
THANK YOU TO CHAIRMAN ROGERS
RUPPERSBERGER FOR REALLY TAKING
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AND
REALLY ESTABLISHING ITS
RELEVANCE BACK IN THE HOUSE.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME
DISAGREEMENTS OVER THE PAST,
BUT I THINK CHAIRMAN ROGERS,
WITH A LOT OF NEW MEMBERS ON
THE COMMITTEE, HAVE BEEN
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE
DEMOCRATS IN A BIPARTISAN WAY
TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO
CONGRESS' ROLE IN THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, AND I
WANT TO COMMEND BOTH OF THEM
FOR THEIR HONEST WORK AND HARD
WORK.
IT'S NEVER EASY BECAUSE IT
TAKES, AS I'M LEARNING NOW,
IT'S A LOT OF HOURS AND IT'S A
LOT OF HOURS ON BEHALF OF THE
MEMBERS THAT THEY HAVE TO
COMMIT TO THIS COMMITTEE AND
HAVING A CHAIRMAN AND RANKING
MEMBER TO REALLY LEAD US IN
THAT EFFORT REALLY MAKES A BIG
DIFFERENCE.
LET ME SPEAK TO THE ISSUE AT
HAND, AND THAT IS IT'S VERY
CONCERNING THAT CONGRESS HAS
NOT COMPLETED AN AUTHORIZATION
BILL IN SIX YEARS EVEN THOUGH
THE TERRORIST THREAT HAS NOT
LESSENED SINCE SEPTEMBER 11,
2001.
THIS HAS LIMITED AND IMPORTANT
CONGRESS.
OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
THE WORLD IS TOO DANGEROUS FOR
CONGRESS NOT TO BE MORE ENGAGED
IN OVERSEEING 17 INTELLIGENCE
AGENCIES.
WE SIMPLY CANNOT MAINTAIN THE
STATUS QUO OF THE 111TH
CONGRESS AND IGNORE LAWS THAT
REQUIRE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT
AND AUTHORIZATION OF
INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS BY THE
HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.
CONGRESS MUST MEET ITS
RESPONSIBILITIES AND BEGIN
AGAIN TO PASS ANNUAL
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION
BILLS, ANNUAL INTELLIGENCE
AUTHORIZATION BILLS ARE VITAL
TO ENSURE THAT THE MEN AND
WOMEN THAT REALLY RISK THEIR
LIVES TO BE PART OF THIS
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY ARE
PROPERLY FUNDED TO CARRY OUT
THEIR CRITICAL MISSION IN
DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY.
SUCH AS THE ONE WE JUST SAW A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO THAT SAW THE
FINAL KILLING OF OSAMA BIN
LADEN.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD
MINUTE.
THE GENTLEMAN AN ADDITIONAL
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I THANK THE CHAIR.
CONGRESS CAN NO LONGER IGNORE
OUR COMBAT UNITS IN IRAQ,
AFGHANISTAN, LIBYA AND OTHER
IMPORTANT PLACES ACROSS THE
WORLD.
OR WHEN OUR INTELLIGENCE
AGENCIES REQUIRE NEW,
CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY, OR
DURING A TIME OF UNPRECEDENTED
UNREST IN THE MIDDLE EAST,
SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OTHER PARTS
OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.
SO THIS DOES NOT MENTION THE
EVER-GROWING THREAT WE FACE IN
THE CYBERCOMMUNITY WITH
CYBERSPACE WHICH IS AN AREA
WHICH THIS COMMITTEE, I
BELIEVE, WILL HAVE TO SPEND
SOME SIGNIFICANT TIME ON.
ALSO DOESN'T MENTION THE TIME
THAT WE'LL HAVE TO SPEND ON
SOME FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT ARE
QUICKLY GAINING ACCESS TO
MINERALS THAT ARE VERY HARD TO
COME BY, WHEN WE HAVE SOME OF
OUR -- SOME MANY FOREIGN
NATIONS INVESTING A LOT OF TIME
OF ENERGY AND EFFORT INTO
LOCATING NOT ONLY THE -- MAY I
HAVE AN ADDITIONAL --
30 SECONDS.
THESE MINERAL OILS,
NATURAL GAS ALL OVER THE WORLD
WHERE WE HAVE COUNTRIES COMING
TOGETHER THAT ARE WORKING, I
THINK, OUTSIDE THE INTEREST OF
THE UNITED STATES.
AND WE HAVE TO HAVE
INTELLIGENCE IN THESE AREAS.
THIS ISN'T YOUR TYPICAL
AUTHORIZATION BILL, BUT IT
FUNDS 17 INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES
CRITICAL TO THE DEFENSE OF OUR
COUNTRY.
EACH AGENCY HAS A UNIQUE
PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD AND
CONGRESS SHOULD BE BIPARTISAN
IN THEIR PARTNER IN THESE
MISSIONS THROUGHOUT THE
ORGANIZATION AND OVERSIGHT
PROCESS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING YES ON
THE 11 BILLS AND LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN WAY
ON THE 2012 BILL.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND IS RECOGNIZED.
YES.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MR. BOREN
FROM OKLAHOMA FOR THREE
MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
OKLAHOMA IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
I'D LIKE TO RISE IN
SUPPORT OF THE INTELLIGENCE
AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 2011.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. ROGERS
AND MR. RUPPERSBERGER TO WORK
TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO
MOVING THIS BILL FORWARD.
IT HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO ALL THE
COMMITTEE'S EFFORTS DURING THE
112TH CONGRESS.
LAST YEAR THE PRESIDENT SIGNED
INTO LAW AN INTELLIGENCE
AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR THE FIRST
TIME SINCE 2005.
THAT BILL INCLUDED A NUMBER OF
IMPORTANT PROVISIONS TO ADDRESS
THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEEDS OF
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY
INCLUDING A PROVISION I
SPONSORED WHICH CREATED A PILOT
PROGRAM IN AFRICAN LANGUAGES
UNDER THE NATIONAL SECURITY
EDUCATION PROGRAM.
I'M GLAD WE CAN BUILD UPON THE
F.Y. 2010 BILL AND GET ANOTHER
AUTHORIZATION BILL SIGNED INTO
LAW FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT
YEAR.
THIS BILL AUTHORIZES THE ANNUAL
FUNDING FOR THE 16-MEMBER
AGENCIES OF THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY.
WITH THE POLICIES AND
STRATEGIES OF THE D.N.I. AND
REQUIRES THE D.N.I. TO
ESTABLISH AN INSIDER THREAT
DETECTION PROGRAM TO PREVENT
UNAUTHORIZED LEAKS OF
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.
WHILE THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT TO
OUR INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITIES'
ABILITY TO BE THE FIRST LINE OF
DEFENSE FOR AMERICA AS WE
RECENTLY SAW WITH THE KILLING
OF BIN LADEN IN PAKISTAN,
INTELLIGENCE FORMS THE FIRST
LINE OF OFFENSE AGAINST OUR
ENEMIES AS WELL.
LAST MONTH I TRAVELED TO
PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN AND
WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE
TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE OF
LOCATING BIN LADEN AND OTHER
MEMBERS OF AL QAEDA.
FINDING HIM WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE ROBUST
CAPABILITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE
TO THE DEDICATED INTELLIGENCE
PROFESSIONALS AT THE C.I.A. AND
OTHER AGENCIES.
THAT IS WHY CONGRESS MUST
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY WITH
EVERY RESOURCE IT NEEDS TO
COMPLETE ITS MISSIONS.
AGAIN, I EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO
CHAIRMAN ROGERS, RANKING MEMBER
RUPPERSBERGER FOR THEIR
EXCEPTIONAL WORK ON THIS
LEGISLATION, AND I ALSO THANK
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR THEIR TIRELESS
EFFORTS IN PREPARING THIS
YEAR'S BILL.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION, AND I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
OKLAHOMA YIELDS BACK.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN IS
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD TO A FORMER
ARMY CAPTAIN, THE GREAT NEW
MEMBER FROM KANSAS, MR. POMPEO.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KANSAS IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
GREAT.
I WANT TO COME TO THE FLOOR
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
TODAY AND THANK CHAIRMAN ROGERS
AND THE RANKING MEMBER FOR THE
GREAT WORK THEY'VE DONE.
I DO NOT SIT ON THIS COMMITTEE
BUT I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY IN
UNIFORM.
AND WE WITNESSED WHAT HAPPENED
IN THE CAPTURE OF THE WORLD'S
GREATEST TERRORIST AND WE SAW
THE GREAT MILITARY FEATS WHICH
TOOK PLACE, BUT WE ALSO KNOW
ALL THE ENORMOUS WORK THAT OUR
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY DID TO
MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I SERVED IN THE UNITS THAT
PATROLLED THE U.S. GERMAN AND
CHECK LOW SLOVAKIAN BORDER.
-- CZECHOSLOVAKIAN BORDERS.
THE MILITARY HAD THE FINEST
DATA.
IN AS NEAR REAL TIME AS WE
POSSIBLY COULD TO KNOW HOW TO
DEPLOY OUR FORCES AND DO THE
THINGS WE NEEDED TO KEEP
AMERICA SAFE.
I WANT TO APPLAUD THE EFFORTS
OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO URBLING ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES TO -- I WANT TO URGE
ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KANSAS YIELDS BACK.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
MR.
CHAIRMAN, I'M READY TO CLOSE.
THE INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION
ACT FOR F.Y. 2011 PROVIDES
POLICY GUIDELINES AND SETS
CLASSIFIED FUNDING LEVELS FOR
THE 16 AGENCIES IN THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
AL QAEDA LEADER, OSAMA BIN
LADEN, IS GONE FOREVER, BUT OUR
FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM IS FAR
FROM OVER.
I BELIEVE THIS BILL MOVES US IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO ENSURE
OUR TOP-NOTCH INTELLIGENCE
PROFESSIONALS HAVE THE
RESOURCES, CAPABILITIES AND
AUTHORITIES THEY NEED TO KEEP
OUR COUNTRY SAFE.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR
STAFF, BOTH ON THE DEMOCRATIC
AND REPUBLICAN SIDE, WHO WORKED
VERY CLOSELY WITH US TOGETHER
TO HELP PUT TOGETHER THIS BILL.
I'VE ALWAYS SAID YOU'RE ONLY AS
GOOD AS YOUR TEAM.
YOU TALK ABOUT TEAMWORK.
YOU NEED A GOOD TEAM AND GOOD
STAFF.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND YIELDS BACK.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN IS
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I'LL JUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO THANK BOTH THE DEMOCRAT AND
REPUBLICAN STAFF MEMBERS WHO
HELPED US PREPARE THIS BILL.
YOU KNOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE I SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE
WE HAD BOTH DEMOCRAT AND
REPUBLICAN STAFF BRIEF IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY AT THE SAME
TABLE ALL MEMBERS IN THE ROOM,
AND WE THINK THAT IMPROVED THE
VALUE OF THIS PRODUCT
TREMENDOUSLY, SOMETHING WE'RE
GOING TO HOPE TO CONTINUE ON.
SO MY HATS OFF TO ALL OF THE
STAFF.
WE HIRE PROFESSIONALS FROM THE
COMMUNITY OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE
AS WELL TO PROVIDE US THE
EXPERTISE THAT WE NEED TO
PROVIDE THE PROPER OVERSIGHT
FOR THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY,
AND I DO BELIEVE IN THIS GREAT
SPIRIT OF BIPARTISANSHIP WITH
MR. RUPPERSBERGER THIS WILL
GIVE THE TOOLS TO THOSE 17
AGENCIES WHO WORK IN SECRECY ON
BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES THE
THINGS THEY NEED TO ACCOMPLISH
THEIR MISSION AND TO KEEP THIS
GREAT COUNTRY SAFE.
AND WITH THAT I WOULD YIELD
BACK THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN YIELDS BACK THE
REMAINDER OF HIS TIME.
ALL TIME FOR GENERAL DEBATE HAS
EXPIRED.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A
SUBSTITUTE PRINTED IN THE BILL
SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS AN
ORIGINAL BILL FOR THE PURPOSE
OF AMENDMENT UNDER THE
FIVE-MINUTE RULE AND SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ.
NO AMENDMENT TO THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENT IS IN ORDER EXCEPT
THOSE PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT
112-75.
EACH SUCH AMENDMENT MAY BE
OFFERED ONLY IN THE ORDER
PRINTED IN THE REPORT BY A
MEMBER DESIGNATED IN THE
REPORT, SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS
READ, SHALL BE DEBATABLE FOR
THE TIME SPECIFIED IN THE
REPORT EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE PROPONENT AND
AN OPPONENT, SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO AN AMENDMENT AND
SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO A
DEMAND FOR DIVISION OF THE
QUESTION.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT
AT THE DESK.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-75
OFFERED BY MR. ROGERS OF
MICHIGAN.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 264, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MICHIGAN, MR. ROGERS, AND A
FIVE MINUTES.
MEMBER OPPOSED EACH WILL CONTROL
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THE BILL.
THIS IS A MANAGER'S AMENDMENT TO
IT CONTAINS TWO PROVISIONS.
THE FIRST PROVISION WOULD SIMPLY
CLARIFY THAT SECTION 411 OF THE
BILL, WHICH RELATES TO CERTAIN
DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
EXPENDITURES, APPLIES ONLY TO
THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
PROGRAM FUNDS.
BY THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED
THIS CLARIFICATION WAS REQUESTED
SERVICES AND IS LARGELY
TECHNICAL IN NATURE.
THE SECOND PROVISION WHICH
STRIKES SECTION 412 OF THE
REPORTED BILL WHICH PROVIDES FOR
THE CREATION OF CERTAIN ACCOUNTS
FOR INTELLIGENCE FUNDS.
WHILE THIS PROVISION IS AN
IMPORTANT ONE INTENDED TO
PROMOTE AUDITABILITY OF
INTELLIGENCE FUNDS, SOME
TECHNICAL ISSUES HAVE ARISEN AND
I BELIEVE IT WAS PRUDENT TO HOLD
THIS OVER UNTIL THE F.Y. 2012
BILL.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT
AND HOPE TO RETURN TO THE BILL
IN F.Y. 2011.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT EITHER OF
THESE CHANGES ARE CONTROVERSIAL
AND URGE MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENT.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
HIS TIME.
MICHIGAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND RISE?
ON THE AMENDMENT --
RUPE RIPE I RISE TO CLAIM TIME
I RISE TO
CLAIM TIME ON THE AMENDMENT.
IS THE GENTLEMAN IN
OPPOSITION?
NO I JUST
RISE TO CLAIM TYPE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ALL RIGHT.
IN THIS ERA OF TIGHT BUDGETS I
BELIEVE IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO MANAGE EVERY TAXPAYER DOLLAR
EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
SECTION 412 OF THE BILL PROVIDES
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER CERTAIN
FUNDS INTO SPECIFIC ACCOUNTS TO
OF MONEY SPENT.
PROVIDE MORE ACCURATE ACCOUNTING
THE MANAGER'S AMENDMENT STRIKES
SECTIONS 412 FROM THE BILL.
SECTION 412 WILL ALLOW FOR AN
ACCURATE AUDIT OF TAXPAYER
DOLLARS.
THIS IMPORTANT TOOL WILL SAVE US
MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.
WE MUST IDENTIFY PROGRAMS THAT
ARE NOT WORKING AND TRIM THOSE
COSTS.
A THOROUGH AUDIT WILL HELP US TO
DO THAT.
WE MUST ENSURE ANY CUTS DO NOT
NECKTIVELY IMPACT ON THE
PERFORMANCE OF THE MISSION.
THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS
SECTION 412 AND SO DO I.
THANK YOU, I RESERVE THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN IS
I THANK THE RANKING
MEMBER, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU ON THIS PARTICULAR
ISSUE.
AS A RANKING MEMBER, I THINK
UNDERSTANDS, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT
WE BROUGHT IN AUDITORS ON THE
COMMITTEE, THIS IS SOMETHING
WE'RE VERY COMMITTED TO IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY, TO ACTUALLY HAVE
FUNDS THAT CAN BE AUDITED, IT'S
A BIT SHOCKING TO BOTH OF US
THAT THEY HAVE HAD THESE FUNDS
FOR SUCH A LONG TIME THAT HAVE
NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE AUDITED AND
WE HOPE TO DO THAT ON BEHALF OF
THE TAXPAYERS OF THE UNITED
STATES.
WITH THAT I WOULD YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN YIELDS BACK.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
I AGREE WITH
THE CHAIRMAN AND THAT STAFF IS
WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO
RESOLVE THE ISSUES INVOLVING
SECTION 412.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO A POSITIVE
RESOLUTION.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN
YIELD BACK?
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION SON THE AMENDMENT
MICHIGAN.
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
AYES HAVE IT.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
REQUESTS A ROLL CALL VOTE.
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN WILL BE
POSTPONED.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 PRINTED IN
HOUSE REPORT 112-75.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RISE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS
RECOGNIZED, FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT
AT THE DESK.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-75
OFFERED BY MR. BARROW OF
GEORGIA.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 264, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM GEORGIA, MR. BARROW, AND A
FIVE MINUTES.
MEMBER OPPOSED EACH WILL CONTROL
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING
CHAIRMAN ROGERS AND RANKING
MEMBER RUPERSBERGING FOR THEIR
HARD WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION.
WE FACE A DIVERSE AND GROWING
ARRAY OF THREATS AROUND THE
GLOBE AND WE NEED AN
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AS
DIVERSE AS THE THREATS WE FACE.
MY AMENDMENT DIRECTS THE
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR
TO CREATE A PILOT PROGRAM FOR
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES TO HELP DEVELOP
CRITICAL LANGUAGE CURRICULUMS
AND STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS.
OUR DEFENSES HAVE TO BE AS
ADVANCED AS THE MEANS USED BY
OUR ENEMIES.
THAT MEANS THAT OUR HUMAN ASSETS
HAVE TO BE AS DIVERSE AS OUR
ENEMIES.
CULTURAL, LANGUAGE AND
EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS AFFECT THE
QUALITY OF INTELLIGENCE WE CAN
GATHER AND IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE
HAVE THE HUMAN ASSETS TO
OVERCOME THESE BARRIERS.
THE AREA OF GEORGIA I REPRESENT
IS HOME TO SEVERAL HBCU'S WITH
SPECIFIC EXPERTISE IN CRITICAL
ENGAGING CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
LANGUAGES.
SUCH AS THESE WILL HELP THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY MEET OUR
STRATEGIC SECURITY GOALS AND
WILL PRODUCE MORE SOPHISTICATED
INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS AND THIS
WILL MAKE OUR COUNTRY MORE
SECURE.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS AMENDMENT AND SUPPORT
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
AND WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN
SEEKS RECOGNITION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WHILE
I DO NOT OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT I
WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
CLAIM THE TIME IN OPPOSITION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
FIVE MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
I YIELD MYSELF AS
MUCH TIME AS I MIGHT CONSUME.
WHILE I SUPPORT THE INTENT
BEHIND THE AMENDMENT I BELIEVE
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE FOR
THE RECORD AND I APPRECIATE THE
GENTLEMAN'S WORK ON THAT THE
ALREADY A NUMBER OF EXISTING
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HAS
AREA.
PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES IN THIS
ENHANCE THAT EFFORT.
I THINK THIS WILL IN FACT
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT HAS THE
GOAL OF ASSISTING HISTORICALLY
BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
IN MAINTAINING CURRICULUM THAT
HELP THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY
BEAT ITS WORK FORCE DIVERSITY
AND CRITICAL LANGUAGE GOALS.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE
COMMUNITY ALREADY UNDERSTANDS
WELL THAT A DIVERSE WORK FORCE
ENHANCES ITS MISSION
PERFORMANCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, DIRECTOR PANETTA
HAS LAUNCHED HIS OWN INITIATIVE
AT C.I.A. TO ENHANCE THE
DIVERSITY OF THAT WORK FORCE.
ADDITIONALLY THERE ARE OTHER
ANYBODYTIVES UNDER WAY TO
INCREASE THE EMPLOYMENT AND
RETENTION OF THE DIVERSE
CANDIDATES THROUGHOUT THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
AND I WON'T GO ON OTHER THAN TO
COMPLIMENT THE GENTLEMAN'S
INTEREST IN EXPOSING THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE THE
SKILLS TO APPLY AND DIVERSE OUR
WORK FORCE AT THE C.I.A. AND
WITH THAT I WOULD RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA HAS YIELDED BACK SO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN STILL
EXROLES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
WOULD YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN YIELDS BACK THE TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
AYES HAVE IT.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 3 PRINTED IN
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
HOUSE REPORT 112-75.
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
RISE?
FOR THE PURPOSE OF
OFFERING AN AMENDMENT, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 3
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-75
OFFERED BY MR. DENT OF
PENNSYLVANIA.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 264, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. DENT, AND
A MEMBER OPPOSED WILL EACH
CONTROL FIVE MINUTES.
THE CHAIR -- THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA VOICED FOR FIVE
THANK YOU, MR.
MINUTES.
SPEAKER.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE CHAIRMAN
AND RANKING MEMBER FOR THE VERY
GOOD WORK THEY'VE DONE ON THIS
BILL.
BIPARTISAN MANNER AND THEY'RE
THEY REALLY HAVE WORKED IN A
BEST INTERESTS OF THE
REALLY TRYING TO ADVANCE THE
-- AND THIS NATION'S NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IN THIS
SECURITY SO I APPLAUD THEM FOR
THE SPIRIT IN WHICH THEY'VE
TAKEN ON THIS LEGISLATION.
I WILL WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT
AFTER HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE CHAIRMAN.
BUT THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE
ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT, THE
AMENDMENT SIMPLY DIRECTS THE
DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE AND C.I.A. THAT
WITHIN 90 DAYS THIS ACT PROVIDE
THE CONGRESSIONAL INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEES INFORMATION POSSESSED
BY THE C.I.A. RELATING TO THE
PURSUIT AND TARGETING OF ONE
ANWRAL AWACKY BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS THE
ANALYSIS BY THE LEGAL
IMPEDIMENTS TO PURSUING HIM.
AMERICANS ARE ALL VERY MUCH
FAMILIAR WITH WHOM OSAMA BIN
LADEN IS, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO HE
IS AND WE'RE ALL EXTREMELY
GRATIFIED ABOUT HIS DEMISE.
AT THE SAME TIME WE ALL SHOULD
BE AWARE THAT ANWAR SEEMS TO BE
THE LEADER OF MANY OPERATIONAL
ASPECTS OF AL QAEDA ON THE
ARABIAN PENINSULA.
HE'S AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND
ALSO A YEMENI CITIZEN.
HE HAS TARGETED AMERICANS.
WE ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS A
SPIRITUAL ADVISOR AND CERTAINLY
A RECRUITER FOR AL QAEDA.
BUT NOW IT'S QUITE CLEAR HE'S
ALSO GONE OPERATIONAL.
WE'RE AWARE OF THAT AS IT
RELATES TO THE UNDERWEAR BOMBER
AND HIS ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP THE
AIRLINER NEAR DETROIT.
SO THE POINT OF THIS AMENDMENT
IS TO RAISE AWARENESS ONAL ALL I
CAN.
POINT OUT THE FACT THAT I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER
ESSENTIALLY THAT HE HAS
COMMITTED EX PATEATING ACTS.
THE FACT THAT HE HAS TARGETED
AMERICAN CITIZENS, THAT HE HAS
CALLED ON THE DEATH OF MANY
AMERICANS, I THINK I HAVE
LEGISLATION THAT IS ALSO
PREPARED THAT WILL DEAL WITH HIS
CITIZENSHIP ISSUE, THAT IT
SHOULD BE REVOKED, AT LEAST WE
SHOULD SERIOUSLY DO THAT, JUST
AS WIE FOR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL
WHO TAKES UP ARMS AGAINST THIS
COUNTRY.
WE HAVE LAWS IN THE BOOKS FROM
1944 WHEN THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS
WHO WERE SIGNING UP WITH THE
NAZI ARMY OR THE IMPERIAL ARMY
OF JAPAN, WHO TOOK UP ARMS
AGAINST THIS COUNTRY AS
CITIZENS.
THOSE ARE EX PATEATING ACTS.
I THINK IF AN INDIVIDUAL TAKES
UP ARMS WITH AL QAEDA, WITH THE
TALIBAN OR ANY OTHER TERRORIST
ORGANIZATION, FOREIGN TERRORIST
ORGANIZATION, THAT IS INTENT ON
KILLING AMERICANS, THAT WE
SHOULD TREAT THEM JUST AS WE
WOULD AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS AN
AGENT OF A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OR
PART OF A FOREIGN ARMY.
THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.
RECOGNIZING THIS IS PROBABLY NOT
THE BEST PLACE TO OFFER THIS
AMENDMENT AT THIS TIME, I HAVE
AGREED TO WITHDRAW AND IT.
I APPRECIATE THE CHAIRMAN'S
CONSIDERATION AND I WILL BE
WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
CONGRESS HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS THE CITIZENSHIP ISSUE OF
AL-AWLAKI.
IT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE
PRESS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT HAS A
KILL OR CAPTURE ORDER ON HIM.
JUST LAST WEEK WE SAW REPORTED
THAT ANWAR WAS THE SBEPPEDED
TARGET OF AN ATTACK,
UNSUCCESSFUL, IN YEMEN AND SO HE
IS STILL ALIVE AND THE POINT I
WANT TO MAKE IS THAT I THINK
THAT WE'RE TARGETING AN AMERICAN
CITIZEN FOR ASSASSINATION AND I
THINK WE SHOULD AT LEAST TAKE UP
THE ISSUE OF HIS CITIZENSHIP AND
REVOKE IT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
AT THAT POINT I WILL ADDRESS IT
IN ANOTHER FORM.
AT THIS POINT I WOULD AGAIN URGE
EVERYBODY HERE TO SUPPORT THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION AND AT
THIS TIME I WOULD WITHDRAW THIS
AMENDMENT.
I APPRECIATE THE CHAIRMAN,
RANKING MEMBER'S CONSIDERATION.
THE GENTLEMAN SEEKS
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO WITHDRAW
THE AMENDMENT.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AMENDMENT
IS WITHDRAWN.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 4.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO
CONSIDER AMENDMENT NUMBER 5
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-75.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK SEEK
RECOGNITION IN
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT
AT THE DESK.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 5
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-75
OFFERED BY MR. GIBSON OF NEW
YORK.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 264, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW YORK, MR. GIBSON, AND A
FIVE MINUTES.
MEMBER OPPOSED EACH WILL CONTROL
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
AND I ACTUALLY WANT TO BEGIN
THIS AFTERNOON BY PRAISING THE
CHAIRMAN AND THE RANKING MEMBER,
ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE INTEL
COMMITTEE AND THEIR STAFF, FOR
TRULY MAGNIFICENT SENT WORK HERE
ON BEHALF OF -- MAGNIFICENT WORK
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
I SPENT SOME TIME DOWN IN THE
SKIFF AND HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE
BILL AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING
THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE PROUD OF
AND CLEARLY THE OPERATION THAT
OCCURRED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO
THAT ENDED UP IN THE DEATH OF
OSAMA BIN LADEN IS AN EXAMPLE OF
HOW INTEL AND OPERATIONS CAN BE
FUSED FOR SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS
AND I'M RISING TODAY TO OFFER AN
AMENDMENT TO THE INTEL
AUTHORIZATION BILL THAT I HOPE
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE WILLING TO
ACCEPT.
IT'S BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES
FROM THE 29 YEARS I SERVED IN
THE UNITED STATES MILITARY,
NEARLY FIVE IN THE NEW YORK ARMY
NATIONAL GUARD AND THEN FOUR
YEARS -- OR 24 YEARS IN THE
UNITED STATES ARMY.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT
PARTICULARLY MY EXPERIENCES IN
IRAQ COMMANDING AN AIRBORNE
INFANTRY BATTALION TASK FORCE
AND THEN LATER AS A DIVISION
G-3, THAT'S AN OPERATIONS
OFFICER FOR MULTIDIVISION
NORTH, I SAW FIRSTHAND THE
VIRTUES OF INTEL AND OPERATIONS
BEING TUESDAYED FOR SUCCESSFUL
OPERATIONS.
SO WHAT CONCERNS ME TODAY IS
THE FACT THAT SINCE THE 11TH OF
SEPTEMBER WE'VE HAD SIGNIFICANT
GROWTH IN THE INTEL COMMUNITY
TO AAGREES VARIOUS CONCERNS.
AND WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO
NOW IS PAUSE, REFLECT AND LOOK
FOR WAYS TO CONSOLIDATE ALL
THAT GROWTH SO THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO HAVE EFFECTIVE
INTEL OPERATIONS IN A MANNER
THAT'S CONSISTENT AND ONE WE
CAN AFFORD.
WHAT I OFFER IS A SIMPLE
AMENDMENT.
IT ASKS THE DIRECTOR OF
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE TO
PROVIDE HIS RECOMMENDATIONS ON
CONSOLIDATION WITH AN EYE
EFFICIENCY.
TOWARDS EFFECTIVENESS AND
WHEN WE INITIALLY CREATED THIS
POSITION, THIS, OF COURSE, WAS
THE RESULT OF THE KING
COMMISSION AFTER THE HORRIFIC
ATTACKS OF THE 11TH OF
SEPTEMBER, 2001, WE CREATED THE
D.N.I. TO HELP US REALLY
PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN THE INTEL
COMMUNITY.
IN MY ESTIMATION WE DID NOT
PROVIDE THE ADEQUATE BUDGET AND
LEGAL AUTHORITIES FOR HIM TO
REALLY ACCOMPLISH ALL THOSE
DUTIES THAT WE EXPECTED OF HIM.
I THINK HE WOULD WELCOME THIS
TASK TO PROVIDE HIS
RECOMMENDATION TO US ON HOW WE
MIGHT BETTER ORGANIZE,
CONSOLIDATE THE INTEL COMMUNITY
TO PERFORM ITS CRITICAL
FUNCTION FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
SO WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME
AND URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE
INTEL COMMITTEE, THE LEADERSHIP
WHO PROVIDED WORK FOR THIS
BILL.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW YORK RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
YES, MR.
SPEAKER, I RISE TO CLAIM TIME
IN OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I APPRECIATE
CONGRESSMAN GIBSON'S INTENT,
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK HIM
FOR HIS SERVICE IN THE
MILITARY, BUT I BELIEVE WE
SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR
EFFICIENCIES TO HELP REDUCE
COST THROUGHOUT THE GOVERNMENT.
THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE IS CONDUCTING A
SIMILAR REVIEW THAT WILL
IDENTIFY REDUNDANCIES WITHOUT
SACRIFICING CORE MISSIONS.
I WANT TO HAVE A REVIEW BEFORE
WE SUBMIT AN ADDITIONAL REPORT.
FOR THIS REASON I OPPOSE THE
AMENDMENT, AND I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE CHAIR:ATE RESERVES FROM
MARYLAND -- THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES FROM MARYLAND.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS
I RESPECT MY
COLLEAGUE FOR ALL HIS
EXPERIENCES THAT HE BRINGS
BEFORE HE COMES TO THE CONGRESS
AND FOR THE TREMENDOUS WORK
HE'S DONE IN THE TIME THAT HE'S
BEEN HERE SERVING THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE IN THE CONGRESS.
I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH
THE POSITION AND WOULD LIKE TO
HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE DIRECTOR
OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.
I KNOW IF I WERE IN HIS SHOES I
WOULD WELCOME THIS TASK.
I WOULD WANT TO PROVIDE THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS, THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE BY WAY OF THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO
PROVIDE THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON
THE WAY THAT HE IN THIS CASE,
THE WAY HE SEES FIT ON BETTER
ORGANIZING THE INTEL COMMUNITY.
WITH A VERY HEAVY RESPECT FOR
THE RANKING MEMBER, I STILL
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW YORK RESERVES HIS TIME.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
I YIELD
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
I YIELD BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.
GIBSON.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
I REQUEST A
ROLL CALL VOTE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR.
GIBSON WILL BE POSTPONED.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT 6 PRINTED IN HOUSE
REPORT 112-75.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND RISE?
I RISE TO
OFFER THE AMENDMENT FOR MS.
WATERS, THE DESIGNEE.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 6
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-75
MARYLAND.
OFFERED BY MR. RUPPERSBERGER OF
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION NUMBER 264, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, MR.
RUPPERSBERGER, AND A MEMBER
OPPOSED, EACH WILL CONTROL FIVE
MINUTES.
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
I YIELD ALL
MY TIME TO CONGRESSWOMAN
WATERS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT
AT THE DESK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY AMENDMENT REQUIRES THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO
REPORT TO CONGRESS ON RACIAL
AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
DIVERSE WORK FORCE IS ESSENTIAL
TO INTELLIGENCE WORK.
PEOPLE FROM A VARIETY OF
BACKGROUNDS BRING A VARIETY OF
PERSPECTIVES TO THE TABLE TO
UNDERSTAND THE WORLD IN WHICH
WE LIVE.
A DIVERSE WORK FORCE PROVIDES
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES CRITICAL
INSIGHT INTO DIFFERENT CULTURES
AROUND THE WORLD WHERE
INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL
THREATS TO OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY IS BEING COLLECTED AND
ANALYZED.
MANY BELIEVE THAT INTELLIGENCE
OFFICIALS UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF A DIVERSE WORK
FORCE.
A STATEMENT, I QUOTE, IN ORDER
FOR THE C.I.A. TO LEAD OUR
MISSION OF PROTECTING OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS, WE
NEED TO EMPLOY A WORK FORCE AS
DIVERSE AS AMERICA ITSELF.
THE MOST DIVERSE NATION ON
EARTH REFLECTS THE UNIQUE WAY
WE VALUE OUR INTELLIGENCE
OFFICERS, RACE, ETHNICITY,
GENDER, AGE, LANGUAGE, CULTURE,
*** ORIENTATION, EDUCATION,
VALUES, BELIEFS, ABILITIES AND
DISABILITIES.
THESE ARE SOUGHTED ATTRIBUTES
THAT DEVELOP VIEWS TO OUR
ANALYSIS.
INNOVATION, COLLECTION AND
AND I REALLY DO THINK THAT SAYS
IT ALL.
AND SO UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S
VIRTUALLY NO DATA AVAILABLE TO
CONGRESS AND THE PUBLIC
REGARDING THE DEGREE OF RACIAL
AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
THE MOST RECENTLY PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE REPORT THAT DISCUSSES
THIS SUBJECT IS A 1996 REPORT
BY THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING
OFFICE ON PERSONNEL PRACTICES
AT INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES WHICH
FOCUSED ON EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY PRACTICES.
THE REPORT CONCLUDED THAT
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES HAVE WORK
FORCE DIVERSITY PROGRAMS BUT
RESULTS LAG FAR BEHIND OTHER
FEDERAL AGENCIES.
THIS REPORT WAS WRITTEN MORE
THAN FIVE YEARS BEFORE THE
TERRORIST ATTACKS OF 9/11 AND
15 YEARS BEFORE THE DEATH OF
OSAMA BIN LADEN.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, BOTH THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AND THE
WORLD IN WHICH IT OPERATES HAVE
CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY SINCE
THEN.
MY AMENDMENT STATES THAT WITHIN
180 DAYS AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF
THE BILL THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
SHALL SUBMIT TO CONGRESS A
REPORT ON THE DEGREE TO WHICH
RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY IN
THE UNITED STATES ARE EMPLOYED
IN PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS IN
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AND
BARRIERS TO THE RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC
MINORITIES IN THESE POSITIONS.
THE AMENDMENT REQUIRES THAT THE
REPORT BE SUBMITTED IN
UNCLASSIFIED FORM BUT ALLOWS
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO
INCLUDE CLASSIFIED ANNEXES.
IT'S LONG PAST TIME FOR
CONGRESS TO RE-EVALUATE THE
DIVERSITY OF THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY WORK FORCE AND I URGE
MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT MY
AMENDMENT.
AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
CONGRESSMAN RUPPERSBERGER, FOR
GIVING ME THIS TIME.
AND I WOULD YIELD BACK TO YOU
WHATEVER TIME MAY BE LEFT.
THE GENTLELADY
YIELDS BACK TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MARYLAND.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND
WILL RESERVE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. CHAIRMAN, WHILE
I DO NOT OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT,
I ASK TO CLAIM TIME IN
OPPOSITION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION,
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I SUPPORT EFFORTS
TO CREATE A DIVERSE WORK FORCE
WITHIN THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY.
DIVERSE WORK FORCE IS
INSTRUMENTAL TO RESPOND TO THE
COMPLEX GLOBAL THREATS FACED BY
THE UNITED STATES.
I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT
THIS AMENDMENT IS DUPLICATIVE
AND MANY -- FOR MANY EFFORTS
WHICH ARE ALREADY UNDER WAY
WITHIN THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS
ISSUE.
FOR EXAMPLE, SECTION 338 OF THE
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT
OF 2010, PASSED AFTER THE
FISCAL YEAR LAST YEAR, REQUIRES
THE D.N.I. TO COORDINATE WITH
EACH ELEMENT OF THE I.C. TO
PROVIDE A REPORT OF PLANS TO
INCREASE THE EMPLOYMENT AND
RETENTION OF DIVERSE
CANDIDATES.
MOREOVER, THE D.N.I. HAS
ALREADY CREATED A STRATEGIC
PLAN ON EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY AND ISSUED
COMMUNITY DIRECTIVE 110, THE
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
AND DIVERSITY PROGRAM.
I HOPE -- IT IS MY HOPE THAT
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WILL
CONSIDER ALL OF THESE EXISTING
INITIATIVES IN THE REPORT AND
USE THE SUBSTANTIAL BODY OF
WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE
ON THESE ISSUES IN COMPLETING
IT.
NONETHELESS, I WILL SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENT AND ITS LAUDABLE
GOALS.
I'LL YIELD BACK THE REMAINDER
OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
I YIELD
BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 7 PRINTED IN
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
HOUSE REPORT 112-75.
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK SEEK
RECOGNITION?
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT I WILL
DESCRIBE.
THE GENTLEMAN WILL
SUSPEND.
THE CLERK WILL DESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 7
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-75
OFFERED BY MR. HINCHY OF NEW
YORK.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 264, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW YORK, MR. HINCHEY, AND
A MEMBER OPPOSED, WILL EACH
CONTROL FIVE MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
A MILITARY COUP
INSTALLED ONE OF THE CRUELEST
DICTATORSHIP SOUTH AMERICA HAS
EVER SEEN.
A LEGAL -- ILLEGAL DETENTIONS,
EXCUSES OF DISSIDENTS BECAME
ROUTINE.
CROSS-COUNTRY OPERATIONS TO
CAPTURE DISSIDENTS WERE -- IT
WAS KNOWN AS OPERATION CONDOR.
OVER THE YEARS, THE VICTIMS OF
NEW TACTIC OF THE ARGENTINE
THE OPPRESSION WENT MISSING, A
SECURITY FORCES WAS REVEALED.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 30,000
PEOPLE DISAPPEARED IN ARGENTINA
BETWEEN 1976 AND 1985.
MANY OF THESE VICTIMS, KNOWN AS
THE DISAPPEARED, FROM ABDUCTED,
THEY WERE TORE *** AND THEN
DROPPED FAR OUT INTO THE OCEAN.
DURING THE DICTATORSHIP,
HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN WERE BORN
INTO CAPTIVITY AND DISTRIBUTED
TO MEMBERS OF THE ARGENTINE
SECURITY FORCES WHILE THEIR
MOTHERS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE
BEEN KILLED.
THE IDENTITY OF SOME OF THESE
CHILDREN HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED
BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEIR
IDENTITIES AND WHEREABOUTS
REMAIN UNKNOWN.
MY AMENDMENT SEEKS TO SHED
LIGHT ON THE UNKNOWN FAITH OF
THESE CHILDREN WHO WOULD BE NOW
IN THEIR 20'S AND EARLY 30'S.
GIVEN THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP
WITH THEIR ARGENTINE
COUNTERPARTS AND THE
INTELLIGENCE SECURITY AND
MILITARY COMMUNITY, THE
DOCUMENTATION OF THE AMERICAN
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IS
LIKELY TO CONTAIN INVALUABLE
INFORMATION TO SUPPORT RENEWED
JUSTICE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE
SEARCH FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE
DISAPPEARED.
. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
DIRECT THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE ON INFORMATION THAT
HAS REGARDING THE HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS OF THE MILITARY
GOVERNMENT IN ARGENTINA AND ALSO
SEEKS TO HELP SHED LIGHT ON THE
UNKNOWN FATE OF THE ARGENTINE
CAPTIVITY.
CHILDREN WHO WERE BORN IN
THE AMENDMENT STRUCTS THE D.N.I.
TO INCLUDE AN APPENDIX OF
DECLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS USED FOR
THE REPORT AND GIVES THE
AUTHORITY FOR THE INCLUSION OF A
CLASSIFIED ANNEX.
THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES HAVE
WAITED MORE THAN 30 YEARS TO
LEARN THE FATE OF THEIR LOVED
ONES AND TODAY, WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO
TRUTH AND JUSTICE AND HELP BRING
TO A CLOSE THIS TROUBLING
CHAPTER IN ARGENTINA'S HISTORY.
IN 2008, THIS AMENDMENT WAS MADE
IN ORDER BY THE RULES COMMITTEE
AND AGREED TO ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
WITHOUT OBJECTION FROM EITHER
PARTY BY VOICE VOTE.
AT THAT TIME, OUR DEAR FRIEND
AND COLLEAGUE, PETER HOEKSTRA
SAID, QUOTE, I WILL NOT OPPOSE
THIS AMENDMENT, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I WILL SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.
SO I URGE ALL OF US TO JOIN IN
SUPPORTING THIS CONTRIBUTION TO
TRUTH AND JUSTICE IN THE COUNTRY
OF ARGENTINA.
I RESERVE THE TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW YORK RESERVES THE BALANCE OF
HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I CLAIM TIME IN
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT.
I MUST UNFORTUNATELY OPPOSE THIS
I CERTAINLY CAN SYMPATHESIZE
WITH THE GENTLEMAN'S INTENTION
TO TRY TO BRING SOME CLOSURE FOR
FAMILIES IN THIS PARTICULAR
DIFFICULT ISSUE IN ARGENTINA AND
MAY RESULT IN SOME INFORMATION
TO THOSE WHO ARE CONDUCTING
HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
AND CERTAINLY TO MEND THE WOUNDS
THAT HAS BEEN CREATED IN THIS
SITUATION AND WOULD DO
SOMETHING, I THINK, EQUALLY
DAMAGING TO TODAY'S EFFORT IN
THE WAR ON TERROR.
IT WOULD DIVERT THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY FROM ITS MISSION OF
PROTECTING THE UNITED STATES IN
OUR INTERESTS FROM CURRENT
THREATS.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW
DIFFICULT IT WAS TO TAKE A SMALL
PIECE OF INFORMATION AND STRETCH
A NICKNAME -- AN ARABIC NICKNAME
TO SOMEONE WHO IS LIKELY
ASSOCIATING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO
HAD ARABIC NICKNAMES AND FROM
THAT SCRAP OF INFORMATION THE
ENTIRE INTELLIGENCE APPARATUS
SPENT YEARS TRYING TO DEVELOP
THE RIGHT LEAD TO LEAD US TO
LAST SUNDAY'S EVENT TO BRING
OSAMA BIN LADEN TO JUSTICE.
THIS YEAR, THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY CAME FORWARD AND SAID,
WE NEED MORE ANALYSTS AND MORE
HUMAN RESOURCES IN ORDER TO
ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION.
THERE ARE TOO MANY THREATS IN
TOO MANY PLACES FOR OUR PEOPLE
TO HANDLE IT.
AND WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES,
ALTHOUGH IT IS VERY WELL
INTENDED, IT TAKES RESOURCES
AWAY TO APPLY IT TO A PROBLEM
THAT IS 20 TO 30 YEARS OLD.
I'M SORRY.
TODAY.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY
WE ARE CONCERNED.
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IS
CONCERNED THAT THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS, NEXT SIX MONTHS ARE
CRUCIAL WHEN AL QAEDA IS TRYING
TO GET ITS ACT BACK TOGETHER
AFTER LOSING ITS OPERATIONAL AND
INSPIRATIONAL LEADER AND HOW
THEY REACH OUT OR LASH OUT IN
SOME KIND OF AN ATTACK.
IT IS IMPERATIVE OF EVERY MINUTE
OF EVERY DAY BE SPENT TARGETING
THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING TO KILL
AMERICANS OR OUR ALLIES OVERSEAS
NOW.
I HOPE THAT WE FIND SOME OTHER
ALTERNATIVE TO WHAT THE
GENTLEMAN PROPOSES AND IN MAYBE
ANOTHER WAY.
BUT REDIRECTING THE VALUABLE
ASSETS IN THE FIGHT ON TERROR
TODAY, I JUST THINK IS A MISUSE
OF OUR RESOURCES AND MAY, IN
FACT, BE A DANGEROUS ONE AT
THAT.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE
DISRUPTING OUR COUNTERTERRORISM
ANALYSTS OR CASE OFFICERS OR
ANYBODY IN THE C.I.A. OR OTHER
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES AWAY FROM
DISRUPTING, DISMANTLING AND
DEFEATING AL QAEDA AND OTHER
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE
ACTIVITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF
ARGENTINA NEARLY 25 YEARS AGO.
AND I WOULD RESERVE THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS
HOW MUCH TIME DO WE
HAVE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW YORK HAS TWO MINUTES
REMAINING AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN HAS THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
AND I DEEPLY APPRECIATE WHAT HAS
JUST BEEN SAID.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS
THAT THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT
COSTS INVOLVED IN THIS.
THIS OPERATION HAS BEEN LOOKED
AT IN THE PAST.
THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE
ASKING FOR IN THE CONTEXT OF
AVAILABLE.
THIS AMENDMENT IS READILY
IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY
SIGNIFICANT COSTS WHATSOEVER.
AND IT CAN BE DONE VERY, VERY
QUICKLY.
THIS IS A SITUATION THAT REALLY
NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
IT'S A VIOLENT, DEEPLY
DISTURBING ACTIVITY THAT TOOK
PLACE IN THE CONTEXT OF MANY,
MANY FAMILIES, MANY WHO ARE
COMPLETELY INNOCENT.
AND THE EFFECTS ON THAT WERE, IN
MANY CASES, DEEPLY DISASTROUS.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE
DONE EASILY AND CAN BE DONE
QUICKLY.
AND IT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE
OPPOSITION.
ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY.
UNANIMOUSLY THE LAST TIME THAT
THIS BILL CAME UP AND THIS
AMENDMENT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD.
SO I ASK THE OPPOSITION HERE TO
RECONSIDER THIS, THINK CLOSELY
ABOUT THIS, HOW IMPORTANT THIS
IS, HOW SIGNIFICANTLY IMPORTANT
IT IS FOR ARGENTINA AND FOR THE
UNITED STATES.
AND HOW IT CAN BE DONE READILY
AND EASILY AND HOW THE RESULTS
OF IT BEING DONE WOULD BE
HAPPILY TAKEN CARE OF BY THESE
TWO COUNTRIES.
THERE ISN'T ANYONE WHO IS GOING
TO DEEPLY OBJECT TO THIS, ANYONE
WHO IS SIGNIFICANT AT LEAST IN
THE CONTEXT OF THIS OPERATION
THIS.
WHO IS GOING TO DEEPLY OBJECT TO
WE NEED TO DO THIS.
IT'S AN HONEST THING AND
SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE
POSITIVE AND WILL BE DEEPLY
POSITIVE AND EFFECTIVE FOR US IN
THE CONTEXT OF BRINGING THIS
ABOUT.
SO I HOPE WHAT -- THAT EVERYONE
IN THIS BODY WILL RECOGNIZE THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS AND VOTE IN
FAVOR OF IT.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN IS
AGAIN, WITH DEEP
RESPECT TO THE MEMBER FROM NEW
YORK, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
PASSION ON THIS, I CAN TELL YOU
AS A FORMER F.B.I. AGENT, WHEN
YOU TAKE ONE MINUTE AWAY FROM
YOUR CASE, IT DOES TAKE SOMEONE
WHO IS OPERATIONAL IN SOME
SENSE, EITHER AN ANALYST,
OPERATOR OR IN THE I.T. FRONT TO
GATHER, COLLECT, SORT THAT
INFORMATION, GO THROUGH IT, TO
PUT IT IN THE FORM AND GET IT IN
THE RATE PLACE.
AND WHEN WE ARE REALLY EVERY
MINUTE OF EVERY DAY IS SO
PRECIOUS TO THESE INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE TRYING TO FOCUS ON AL
QAEDA AND THE CURRENT THREAT, MY
ARGUMENT IS THAT THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT CAN WAIT.
IT'S WAITED 25 YEARS.
PROBABLY THE NEXT FEW YEARS
WON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
BUT THE NEXT FEW YEARS IN THE
FIGHT AGAINST AL QAEDA CAN MEAN
CITIZENS.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF U.S.
I HOPE THE GENTLEMAN DOESN'T
TAKE IT THAT IT IS ANY
CONDEMNATION OF HIS EFFORT.
I THINK THE TIME AND THE PLACE
AND THE RESOURCES THAT WOULD BE
LOST ARE JUST NOT MEETING THE
NATIONAL SECURITY PRIORITIES AS
WE LOOK OUT ACROSS WHAT THE
THREAT STREAM IS TODAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL CONTINUE
TO OPPOSE IT AND I WOULD LIKE TO
WORK WITH THE GENTLEMAN ON
SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW YORK.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
NOES HAVE IT AND THE AMENDMENT
IS NOT AGREED TO.
WOULD REQUEST A
VOTE ON THIS IN THE NEXT SESSION
WE HAVE TOMORROW.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6,
RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK WILL BE
POSTPONED.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 8 PRINTED IN
HOUSE REPORT 112-75.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT
AT THE DESK.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 8
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT NUMBER
112-75, OFFERED BY MR. CARNEY OF
DELAWARE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
DELAWARE, MR. CARNEY, AND A
MEMBER OPPOSED EACH WILL CONTROL
FIVE MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE.
OVER THE PAST WEEK,
OFFICIALS HAVE ANNOUNCED
PRELIMINARY INTELLIGENCE
GATHERED FROM OSAMA BIN LADEN,
PAKISTAN HIDEOUT SHOWS AL QAEDA
HAD BEEN PLOTTING A TERRORIST
ATTACK ON OUR NATION'S RAIL
SYSTEM.
WHILE ROUGHLY 1.7 MILLION
PASSENGERS RIDE IN DOMESTIC AND
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS DAILY,
EVERY WEEK DAY, 34 MILLION
AMERICANS RIDE ON TRAINS AND
TRANSIT SYSTEMS.
THE ISSUE OF RAIL SECURITY IS
MORE RELEVANT NOW THAN EVER AND
I'M HERE TODAY TO ARGUE FOR
MAKING RAIL SECURITY A NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE PRIORITY.
ON MARCH 11, 2004, NEARLY 200
PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN MADRID AS
A RESULT OF A TERRORIST BOMBING
WHILE RIDING THE COMMUTER RAIL
TO WORK.
IN 2005, OVER 50 PEOPLE WERE
KILLED AND 700 PEOPLE INJURED ON
THE LONDON TRANSIT SYSTEM IN A
SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS DURING THE
MORNING RUSH HOUR.
AN ATTACK ON OUR RAIL SYSTEM
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WOULD
BE DEVASTATING.
AND WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY
RESULT IN THE LOSS OF LIFE.
CLEARLY, TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
AROUND THE WORLD HAVE MADE RAIL
SYSTEMS A TARGET.
AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE WE NEED
TO ADDRESS THE VULL -- RAIL
SECURITY.
THAT'S WHY I OFFERED THIS
AMENDMENT DIRECTING THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO
INCLUDE RAIL AND SUBWAY TRANSIT
SECURITY IN ITS TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY PLANS AND BUDGETS.
THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT FOUND
OVER 90% OF THE NATION'S ANNUAL
INVESTMENT IN TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY IS SPENT ON AVIATION
SECURITY.
AND WHILE ADDRESSING SECURITY
FLAWS IN AVIATION SECURITY IS
CRITICAL, THIS LEAVES TOO LITTLE
FOR THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY, PARTICULARLY ON OUR
RAIL SYSTEMS.
FOR NOW, RIDING TRAINS ARE SAFE.
THAT'S HOW TRANSPORTATION
SECRETARY LAHOOD DESCRIBED OUR
RAIL SYSTEM DESPITE THE
INTELLIGENCE FOUND IN OSAMA BIN
LADEN'S COMPOUND.
WE NEED TO DO BETTER THAN THAT.
AS A NEAR DAILY RIDER OF AMTRAK
MYSELF, I WANT TO KNOW THAT THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS
DOING ALL IT CAN TO KEEP MY
FELLOW PASSENGERS SAFE.
AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT SO OUR
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IS ABLE
TO IDENTIFY AND PREVENT A
SYSTEM.
TERRORIST ATTACK ON ON OUR RAIL
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION AND I RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I LAY CLAIM TIME IN
OPPOSITION.
WHILE I AGREE WITH THE NEED FOR
A STRONG SECURITY IN THE RAILWAY
SECTOR, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT
THIS AMENDMENT IS BEST SUITED
FOR THE INTELLIGENCE
AUTHORIZATION BILL.
AS IT SEEMS TO ADDRESS THE
POLICY ISSUES THAT ARE NOT
AUTHORIZED OR OTHERWISE
ADDRESSED IF OUR FISCAL YEAR
2011 AUTHORIZATION BILL.
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY DOES
NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY
BUDGETS.
PLANS OR TRANSPORTATION SECURITY
NOR DO INDIVIDUAL INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY AGENCIES.
THEY WOULD -- IN ORDER TO MEET
THE REQUIREMENT OF THIS, THEY
WOULD HAVE TO RESTRUCTURE
THEMSELVES TO BRING IN THE RIGHT
PEOPLE TO DO THE PLANS FOR
SECURITY FOR THE RAILWAY.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT
THE GENTLEMAN INTENDS, BUT
THAT'S CLEARLY WHAT THE
GENTLEMAN'S AMENDMENT WOULD DO.
AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD BE BETTER
FOCUSED ON THE TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, THE
T.S.A.
THAT AGENCY FALLS UNDER THE
JURISDICTION OF THE HOMELAND
SECURITY COMMITTEE AND NOT THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY DOES
NOT DEVELOP TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY PLANS, RATHER THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY PROVIDES
THREAT INFORMATION TO THE
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR TO BETTER
ENABLE IT TO DEVELOP SECURITY
PLANS.
ADDITIONALLY, I NOTE THAT THIS
AMENDMENT SIMPLY EXPRESSES THE
SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON THE
ISSUE, DOES NOT ACTUALLY COMPEL
ANY ACTION.
AND I WOULD QUESTION THE REAL
IMPROVEMENT TO SECURITY IN THE
RAILWAY SECTOR FROM ITS
ADOPTION.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT APPEARS THAT
THE AMENDMENT WOULD NOT HAVE THE
REAL IMPACT IF THIS IS REALLY
OUT OF THE SCOPE OF THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, I WOULD
URGE THE GENTLEMAN TO RECONSIDER
AND CONTEMPLATE MAYBE ADDRESSING
IT IN THE T.S.A.
AND IF THE GENTLEMAN WOULD LIKE
HELP IN DOING THAT, I WOULD BE
EAGER TO TRY TO HELP THE
GENTLEMAN DO THAT.
BUT AGAIN, GIVEN THE TIME
PRESSURES ON OUR INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY TO STOP REAL-TIME
THREATS AND PASS THAT
INFORMATION ON TO PEOPLE IN THE
T.S.A. AND OTHERS, I WOULD ARGUE
THAT THIS IS AN AMENDMENT THAT
WE SHOULD ALL OPPOSE AND LOOK
FOR A BETTER OPPORTUNITY.
WITH THAT, I RESEVERE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE IS
RECOGNIZED.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD,
I LISTENED TO THE GENTLEMAN AND
I APPRECIATE HIS COMMENTS AND I
APPRECIATE HIS REMARKS ON THE
PREVIOUS AMENDMENT AND HE SAID
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES SPEND ALL
THEIR TIME TARGETING PEOPLE
TRYING TO KILL AMERICANS.
AND THE FACTS ARE THAT THESE
TERRORISTS ARE TRYING TO KILL
AMERICANS ON AMERICAN RAIL
TRANSIT SYSTEMS AND THAT'S THE
PURPOSE OF THIS AMENDMENT TO
MAKE SURE THIS IS GIVEN A
PRIORITY IN OUR INTELLIGENCE
PLAN AND I YIELD 30 SECONDS OR
WHATEVER HE MIGHT NEED TO THE
RANKING MEMBER.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR HIS AMENDMENT.
I DISAGREE WITH THE CHAIRMAN.
I BELIEVE IT IS VITALLY
IMPORTANT WE PROTECT OUR RAILWAY
INFRASTRUCTURE FROM TERRORIST
ATTACKS.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
ISSUED AN INTELLIGENCE MESSAGE
ABOUT POTENTIAL AL QAEDA
CONTEMPLATION IN PLOTS AGAINST
THE RAIL SECTOR.
WHILE THERE WAS NO IMMINENT
THREAT AT THAT TIME, WE MUST
BECOME VIGILANT.
I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH
THE CHAIRMAN IF THE AMENDMENT
DOES NOT PASS SO WE CAN FOCUS ON
THIS SERIOUS AREA OF THREAT TO
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
I URGE A YES VOTE ON THIS
.
AMENDMENT AND YIELD BACK.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM DELAWARE RESERVE?
I JUST HAVE A
COUPLE MORE COMMENTS.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE?
THE GENTLEMAN HAS 1
1/2 MINUTES.
BETWEEN 2004 AN
2008, ATTACKS RESULTED IN 2,000
DEATHS AND 9,000 INJURIES.
FIVE BILLION PASSENGER MILES,
INNER CITY AND COMMUTER RAIL
ARE LOGGED EVERY TAI IN THE
NORTHEAST CORRIDOR ALONE IN THE
U.S.
THAT REPRESENTS MORE THAN 1/3
OF VEHICLES LOGGED ON I-95
BETWEEN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND
NEW YORK CITY MY AMENDMENT WILL
ENSURE THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
PLACES OUR PRIORITY ON ENSURING
THE SAFETY OF RAIL PASSENGERS
AROUND THE COUNTRY BY WORKING
TO PREVENT A TERRORIST ATTACK
ON OUR RAIL SYSTEM AND I WOULD
ASK SUPPORT FOR THIS AMENDMENT.
I RESERVE THE BRANS OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN IS RECOGNIZED.
-- MR.
RUPPERSBURGER --
THEY ARE SUPPOSED
TO PASS IT TO SOMEBODY IN
CHARGE, THE T.S.A. IN THIS
CASE, OF PROTECTING THE
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR.
I MAKE THE ARGUMENT IT IS
IMPORTANT BUT I JUST THINK THIS
IS MISPLACED.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HAVE, THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE WOULD
HAVE TO TRY TO CREATE THIS
EXPERTISE OF WHICH THEY DO NOT
HAVE TODAY IN THE ENTIRETY OF
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE TO
MAKE SECURITY PLANS.
IT'S NOT WHAT THEY DO, IT'S NOT
WHAT THEY'RE EQUIPPED TO DO,
THEY'RE NOT, IN MOST CASES,
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE
F.B.I. AND D.E.A., THEY'RE NOT
DOMESTIC AGENCIES, THEY'RE
DESIGNED TO COLLECT OVERSEAS.
IT'S NOT A GOOD FIT.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE
GENTLEMAN'S POSITION.
I JUST THINK THE COMMUNITY
WOULD HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF
TIME AND RESOURCES DIVERTING
FROM ITS REAL INTENTION AND
MISSION TO KEEP US SAFE.
JUST QUICKLY, FOR THE RECORD, I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, THE
INFORMATION THAT THE GENTLEMAN
REFERENCED WITH WAS
ASPIRATIONAL.
I KNOW WE SAW A LOT OF PRESS
REPORTS THAT I THINK
MISREPRESENTED THE INFORMATION
THAT WAS PROVIDED.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT OSAMA BIN
LADEN THOUGHT ABOUT.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY BELIEVES
WAS OPERATIONAL WHICH MEANS YOU
HAVE TO BE VIGILANT ALL THE
TIME ON ALL THESE ISSUES.
I COMMEND THE GENTLEMAN IN HIS
EFFORT ON TRYING TO BRING
BETTER SECURITY TO OUR
RAILWAYS, AGAIN, JUST THE RIGHT
TOOL FOR THE RIGHT JOB, THIS IS
NOT THE RIGHT PLACE.
I OPPOSE IT BUT WOULD LIKE TO
WORK WITH THE GENTLEMAN ON THE
RIGHT PLACE TO GET THAT JOB
TONE.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
DELAWARE HAS 30 SECONDS
REMAINING.
I APPRECIATE THE
GENTLEMAN'S COMMENTS AND
RESPECT HIS EXPERTISE BUT I
CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THE
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES AREN'T, A
THEY DO THEIR INTELLIGENCE
ACTIVITIES OVERSEAS, AREN'T
FINDING OUT THERE ARE THREATS
TO THE U.S. AIL SYSTEM.
MY AMENDMENT WOULD MAKE THAT A
PRIORITY WITHIN ALL THE THINGS
THAT THEY DO.
WITH THAT, I YIELD MY TIME AND
ASK FOR A VOTE ON THE
AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK ALL TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
I YIELD BACK MY
TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT AND THE
AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
I ASK FOR A
RECORDED VOTE.
THE GENTLEMAN ASKS
FOR A RECORDED VOTE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE
18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE WILL BE
POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE DO NOW RISE.
THE QUESTION IS ON
RISE.
THE MOTION THAT THE COMMITTEE
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT, THE MOTION IS