House Proceeding 02-25-10 on Feb 25th, 2010 :: 0:03:10 to 0:23:10
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0:02:30 to 0:03:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Donna Edwards

0:03:02 to 0:03:11( Edit History Discussion )

Donna Edwards: system, and for other purposes. the chair: pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the first time. the gentleman from texas, mr. reyes, and the gentleman from michigan, mr. hoekstra, each

0:03:12 to 0:03:32( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: will control 30 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. mr. reyes: thank you, madam chair. i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks, to include extraneous material on the bill h.r. 2701. the chair: general leaf was

0:03:15 to 0:11:30( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Silvestre Reyes

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Silvestre Reyes: granted in the house. mr. reyes: thank you, madam chair. i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. reyes: madam chair, i'm proud to rise today in support of h.r. 2701, the intelligence authorization act for fiscal year 2010. this is an unusual time of the year for us to be considering this legislation, however, it is and remains a very important

0:03:55 to 0:04:15( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: bill which addresses critical national security issues and one that we ultimately need to see enacted. as chairman of the permanent select committee on intelligence, my most important job is to guide the committee in providing appropriate tools, resources and authorities to aid the dedicated men and women

0:04:16 to 0:04:36( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: of the intelligence community in keeping our nation safe. i believe that h.r. 2701 -- the chair: the gentleman will suspend. the committee will be in order. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. reyes: thank you, madam chair. i believe that h.r. 2701 does just that. first and foremost, this bill

0:04:37 to 0:04:58( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: authorizes the activities and the funds for the 16 agencies of the intelligence community. it's difficult to talk about their roles and their missions in the open, but in some ways it's probably one of the most important things that we do on the intelligence committee. in addition to providing authorization for intelligence activities, this bill takes the

0:04:59 to 0:05:20( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: initial important steps to improve congressional oversight of that intelligence community. i want to highlight two legislative provisions from this year's bill that i believe will significantly improve oversight. when this bill was marked up in committee, we made significant changes to the so-called gang of eight procedures.

0:05:21 to 0:05:41( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: as members know, the president has had the statutory authority to limit briefings to the gang of eight when they involve very sensitive, covert actions. it was the sense of the committee that the gang of eight statutory authity had been overused and that on matters of critical importance

0:05:42 to 0:06:02( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: the committee as a whole should have been informed. for that reason that earlier version of the bill removed the statutory authority for limiting briefings to the gang of eight. last july the administration issued a statement h.r. 2701 that included a veto

0:06:03 to 0:06:23( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: threat with respect to the provisions that would modify the gang of eight notification procedures. i believe that some level of concern at that point was justified, and i have been working with the administration over the past several months to address those differences. since july there have already

0:06:24 to 0:06:45( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: been notable improvements in the way the administration and the intelligence community are briefing congress. accordingly, the manager's amendment i will offer includes a revised provision on the gang of eight reform. i know that many members have strong feelings about this issue on both sides of the aisle. the provision that is in the

0:06:46 to 0:07:07( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: manager's amendment is intended to be a strong and significant step towards better oversight, which still respects the constitutional authorities of the president. it recognizes that both the elected -- that both elected branches have a role in national security. i fully expect that once we pass this bill we will then

0:07:08 to 0:07:28( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: revisit this issue during conference between the house and the senate, an i'm happy to work with members to seek improvements at that time. through this process we will be able to find a workable solution to a problem that has been persistent over the past several years, if not longer. another provision that i think

0:07:29 to 0:07:49( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: is absolutely critical establishes a statutory inspector general for the intelligence community. this provision will eliminate waste, fraud and abuse and it will also help keep a close eye on the protection of the rights of americans. this year's bill is truly a product of many hands.

0:07:50 to 0:08:11( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: the inspector general provision, which i just spoke about, in large part is due to the efforts of ms. eshoo, the chair of the intelligence community management subcommittee. the vice chairman of the full committee, mr. hastings, has offered an amendment to include critical provisions on our shared interests in promoting

0:08:12 to 0:08:32( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: diversity as a mission imperative. he's been working at this long and hard for many, many years. our newest majority member, mr. boren, has worked hard to develop a pilot program to improve language capability in african languages. the chairman of the tactical

0:08:33 to 0:08:55( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: and technical subcommittee, mr. ruppersberger, has worked hard on the classified annex to make sure that our approach to acquisition and our most technical programs make good sense. he's been a pivotal part of the committee's oversight process in these very important areas. the bill includes several provisions oered by ms. schakowsky, the chairwoman of

0:08:56 to 0:09:16( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: the oversight and investigation subcommittee, which relate to her longstanding interest in appropriately monitoring and managing contractors in the intelligence community. mr. holt, the chairman of the select intelligence oversight panel, advocated for a panel of

0:09:17 to 0:09:38( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: interrogation and the health risk faced by desert storm veterans. mr. thompson of california, another subcommittee chairman, has worked hard on this bill as well. he pushed successfully for the inclusion of a provision to study the benefits paid for the men and women of the intelligence community who have

0:09:39 to 0:09:59( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: made the ultimate sacrifice. i'm proud to support that as well. we also received important input from the committee's minority members, mr. kleine of minnesota offered an -- mr. kl ein of minnesota offered an amendment to rewrite its

0:10:00 to 0:10:23( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: charter to rewrite its important missions. mr. conaway and his personal interests in audible -- auditable financial statements led to a provision in the bill that requires the intelligence community to focus on its internal financial management and to provide a system that

0:10:24 to 0:10:44( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: achieves auditibility. madam chair, i believe this bill will provide the resources and the tools that the intelligence community needs to do its important work in keeping our nation safe. that includes collection and analysis of human intelligence, signals intelligence and geospatial intelligence. it includes funds to detect and

0:10:45 to 0:11:05( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: disrupt terrorist plots, to provide for intelligence support for the war fighters in iraq and afghanistan and improves the recruitment and training of a diverse and capable work force. during my time on this committee, i've had the good fortune to be able to travel and to meet the brave men and

0:11:06 to 0:11:26( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: women of the intelligence community. both uniformed and civilian. and i am continually impressed and in awe of the great work that they do and the great morale that they have. they are dedicat, professional and highly skilled patriots and i'm proud to offer a bill that supports them and all that they do for our great nation.

0:11:27 to 0:11:33( Edit History Discussion )

Silvestre Reyes: this past december we lost seven of those brave men and

0:11:34 to 0:11:55( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: women in the attack in khost, afghanistan. it for them and for those who carry on their mission that i proudly submit this bill today. with that i reserve the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman reserves. the chair recognizes the gentleman from michigan, mr. hoekstra. mr. hoekstra: thank you, madam speaker. i yield myself such time as i may consume. the chair: without objection.

0:11:35 to 0:18:40( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Peter Hoekstra

0:11:56 to 0:12:16( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: mr. hoekstra: madam speaker, annual intelligence authorization bills should be bipartisan legislation designed to address critical national security issues and deal in a deliberate and considered way with legislation affecting the intelligence community, the personnel within the intelligence community. unfortunately this bill does neither. i'm forced to rise in strong

0:12:17 to 0:12:37( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: opposition. when this bill was first reported almost eight months ago the bill failed to address critical national security issues such as guantanamo detainees. attempts by this administration to convert intelligence and counterterrorism in matters of criminal law and meaningful reforms to the congressional notification process. in the nearly eight months

0:12:38 to 0:13:00( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: since this bill was reported out of committee, our country has suffered two major terrorist attacks and a significant number of near misses. during that time the majority took no time and no action to bring this bill to the floor. in eight months nothing was done to fix the flaws in our intelligence committee that were apparent to every american in

0:13:01 to 0:13:22( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: the wake of the first attack at fort hood and later the christmas bombing attack on an american airliner. in eight months nothing was done to clarify who was in charge of interrogation of high-value terrorist detainees. these people that are captured around the world who want to do harm to america. in eight months nothing was done

0:13:23 to 0:13:43( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: to provide a long-term renewal of our critical intelligence authorities under the ausn patriot act. in eight months nothing was done to once and for al stop hard core radical jihadist terrorists from being brought to the united states despite the clear opposition that has arisen to this ill-considered idea from average americans across the

0:13:44 to 0:14:04( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: country. in eight months nothing has been done to clarify how covert actions, how covert actions should be conducted or authorized when they could have deadly effects on american citizens. nothing has been done. then you go through and you take a look at the amendments that we

0:14:05 to 0:14:25( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: wanted to provide that would dreap -- that would address these issues and all of these were -- propose that would address these issues and all of these were thrown out by the majority. an amendment that would direct the d.n. toimplet establish a panel to review the -- d.n.i. to establish a panel to riew weapons of mass destruction of

0:14:26 to 0:14:46( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: iran. our intelligence community is now to the left of the united nations as to our assessment of what iran's capabilities are. to the left. the ill-fated national intelligence estimate that came out under the previous administration. we've asked for an independent

0:14:47 to 0:15:07( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: panel of experts to give us a red team review. our colleagues on the other side of the aisle said, no, that's not necessary. we asked for an amendment that would require the c.i.a. to release publicly unclassified versions of documents relating to the use of enhanced

0:15:08 to 0:15:29( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: interrogation techniques. this controversial background as to who knew what when, including some of the leading members of this body. we asked for those documents to be released. the majority said no. we asked for the prohibition of funds -- we asked for the prohibition of funds to bring

0:15:30 to 0:15:51( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: guantanamo detake auto -- detainees into the united states. the majority said, we won't even debate it, we won't consider it, we won't allow for an amendment that would do just that. we asked for a report requiring the d.n.i. to submit a report

0:15:52 to 0:16:12( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: detailing steps taken to fix problems identified in the president's fort hood intelligence review prior to december 25. why? because the incident on november 5 had striking parallels to what happened on december 25. and we thought it was fair to

0:16:13 to 0:16:33( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: ask the question and ask the director of national intelligence, would the information that you gained on nomber 5, what actions did you take that might have helped prevent what happened on christmas day? and the answer was, no, we don't think that would be a worth

0:16:34 to 0:16:56( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: while effort to ask the intelligence community those kinds of tough and difficult questions and be held accountable to this body. and then we said, had another amendment that said, don't we think it would be appropriate that we actually establish a process for the authorization

0:16:57 to 0:17:18( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: and the notification of covert actions that may result in the death of a targeted u.s. citizen? doesn't get into a debate as to whether or not that is appropriate, an appropriate course of action. it just says, don't we think that the intelligence community

0:17:19 to 0:17:39( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: and the executive branch should have in place a detailed process of how these decisions are made, how they are authorized and when congress would be noified? and the answer from the majority was no.

0:17:40 to 0:18:01( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: a process that would give us an idea as to how the administration would authorize and notify congress when they took actions that might result in the death of a targeted u.s. citizen. a targeted u.s. citizen.

0:18:02 to 0:18:23( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: and these are justhe amendments that were not considered substantive, serious issues that the majority is unwilling to debate, to discuss and to address. later on as we go through the day and as we take a look at the manager's amendment and the other amendments, we'll take a look at the striking contrast

0:18:24 to 0:18:40( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: between what the majority is willing to debate and discuss and to act on and what they are unwilling to debate and discuss and it has a direct impact on the safety of each and every american. with that, madam speaker, i

0:18:41 to 0:19:01( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: reserve the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> thank you, madam chairman. now it's my privilege to yield three minutes to my good friend and chairman of the armed services committee, the gentleman from missouri, mr. skelton, who actually has jurisdiction over some of the issues that the ranking member mentioned just a couple minutes ago, mr. skelton.

0:18:45 to 0:21:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Ike Skelton

0:19:02 to 0:19:24( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: the chair: the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. mr. skelton: madam chairman, first let me thank the gentleman from texas, chairman reyes, for the hard work that he did on this bill. so i rise today in strong support of the intelligence authorization act. from my perspective as chairman

0:19:25 to 0:19:47( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: of the armed services committee, it's a good bill, one that will support the intelligence needs of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. every day american men and women who are deployed in harm's way depend on the intelligence capabilities authorized by this bill to achieve their missions.

0:19:48 to 0:20:08( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: i cannot state strongly enough about how those in uniform who are in harm's way depend upon the intelligence that they receive. this legislation ensures continued deliver of -- delivery of quality intelligence products and capabilities to our war fighters, it will lead to important improvements in the future.

0:20:09 to 0:20:29( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: as i've said before, the relationship between the intelligence community and department of defense is fundamental to the success on theefield. this bill strengthens the relationship by expanding the intelligence community's technical and human collection capabilities. it adds significant resources to

0:20:30 to 0:20:50( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: modernize single intelligence capabilities and other cunning technologies that are the foundation for intelligence support for our war fighters in afanisghan. the bill also adds resources for human action against terrorists and other endure and emerging global security issues in asia, africa and as well as in latin america. this measure will improve

0:20:51 to 0:21:00( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: oversight of the intelligence community by creating a statutory and independent intelligence communitywide inspector general.

0:21:01 to 0:21:22( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: and finally this bill enhances cyber security which is becoming very, very important. cyber security -- cybersecurity efforts by authorizing significant investments to support the president's comprehensive cersecurity strategy. i congratulate chairman reyes on bringing this bill to the floor. i urge my colleagues to join me

0:21:05 to 0:22:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Peter Hoekstra

0:21:23 to 0:21:43( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: in supporting this very, very important measure. i might add, madam chairman, that we on the armed services committee have dealt with some and have the jurisdiction of dealing with some matters that my friend from michigan mentioned a few moments ago, they're within our jurisdiction. i thank the gentleman for

0:21:44 to 0:22:00( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Hoekstra: yielding. the chair: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from michigan is recognized. mr. hoekstra: thankou, madam speaker. i yield to mr. thornberry from texas who will talk about the continued efforts by this

0:22:01 to 0:22:22( Edit History Discussion )

Mac Thornberry: administration in what appears to be a war on the intelligence community, a legal war on our intelligence community, the brave men and women in that community. the chair: the gentleman from texas is recognized for four minutes. mr. thornberry: thank you. i appreciate the distinguished ranking member for yielding to me. in a way this bill is a tale two of bills.

0:22:05 to 0:28:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Mac Thornberry

0:22:23 to 0:22:43( Edit History Discussion )

Mac Thornberry: part of this bill is the classified annex where specific dollar amounts are allocated to various programs. and the classified anne ex, i'm happy to report, is a bipartisan product and i appreciate the chairman of this committee, subcommittee chairman ruppersberger and others,

0:22:44 to 0:23:05( Edit History Discussion )

Mac Thornberry: working with republicans to have -- compromising from both sides, but having a bipartisan product that has the support, i believe, of the full intelligence committee and should have the support of the full house. unfortunately that is not the case with the other provisions of this bill, the policy provisions of this bill, which

0:23:06 to 0:23:27( Edit History Discussion )

Mac Thornberry: are deeply disturbing. as a ranking member has indicated, a number of key issues whether it's from guantanamo to reading miranda rights, have not even been allowed to be debated and voted on the floor of the house. those issues have been shut aside. instead what we have in the

>==Official Record==