[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1809]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996

                                 ______


                               speech of

                           HON. JENNIFER DUNN

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 13, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1655) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1996 for 
     intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the U.S. 
     Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central 
     Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for 
     other purposes:

  Ms. DUNN. Mr. Chairman, I want to state for the record my strong 
support of H.R. 1655, the fiscal year 1996 Intelligence Authorization 
Act which the House passed last week. First, I would like to commend 
the chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, Congressman Larry 
Combest, for reporting out a find bill that quite appropriately 
authorizes those intelligence functions that are consistent with out 
Nation's vital national security needs.
  I believe the committee was wise to chose no longer to view the 
intelligence budget merely in terms of straight dollar figures. 
Dramatic changes in the geopolitical and military landscape during the 
last decade have significantly impacted key aspects of United States 
security. The magnitude of those changes continues to evolve in 
uncertain directions as do the implications for America. In other 
words, while the world is dramatically different from the cold war 
years, it remains an unstable and therefore dangerous place.
  It is, in my view, entirely appropriate to continue the process of 
analyzing threats to U.S. borders, to our military, and to American 
leaders and citizens traveling or living abroad. And we must analyze 
them under the new terms of the evolving post-cold-war dynamic. As we 
prepare for the 21st century, I appreciate the committee's efforts to 
emphasize a more intense and evaluative consideration of our 
intelligence functions. As stated in the committee report that 
accompanied H.R. 1655, ``each [intelligence] program adjustment was 
considered as an individual, substantive issue.'' that, Mr. Chairman, 
is exactly what the taxpayers of the Nation expect and deserve.
  Given the considerable importance and wide-reaching implications of 
the intelligence programs authorized in this bill, this bill is a 
remarkable accomplishment. H.R. 1655 is in keeping with the 104th 
Congress's disciplined effort to balance the Federal budget, and is a 
perfect example of our desire to scrutinize everything funded with the 
public dollar. Further, it exemplifies American legislative policy that 
supports not only our national interests but our drive to keep federal 
spending under control. I am proud to express my support for it.

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