[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 146 (Monday, September 15, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8086-H8088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE FBI ON THEIR 100TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 410) recognizing the 
FBI on their 100th anniversary.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 410

       Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was 
     founded by President Theodore Roosevelt and United States 
     Attorney General Charles Bonaparte on July 26, 1908, as a 
     Federal investigative agency;
       Whereas it was first named the Bureau of Investigation to 
     provide a force of Special Agents to investigate crimes 
     across State lines and Federal crimes in its initial days, 
     and later expanded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
     reflecting the growth our Nation's need to protect its 
     people;
       Whereas in the face of foreign threats during two World 
     Wars and the Cold War, the FBI's jurisdiction was expanded to 
     investigate espionage and sabotage against the United States 
     of America;
       Whereas when over the course of our Nation's history the 
     civil rights of Americans have been challenged, the FBI has 
     been called upon to protect those civil rights and has 
     brought violators to justice, and remains the primary Federal 
     law enforcement agency for investigating civil rights 
     violations;
       Whereas the men and women of the FBI have come to meet the 
     challenges of violent criminal elements and gangs, working in 
     partnership with State, local, and tribal law enforcement to 
     provide safe streets in our communities around the country;
       Whereas when the Nation's financial markets were threatened 
     by white collar criminals, organized criminal enterprises, 
     and international fraud schemes, the FBI's efforts to protect 
     our economy were reflected in major investigative 
     achievements;

[[Page H8087]]

       Whereas the world has expanded through the creation of the 
     World Wide Web, the FBI has been called to protect against 
     cyber-based attacks and high-technology crimes through 
     investigations of computer fraud, child exploitation, theft 
     of intellectual property, and worldwide computer intrusions;
       Whereas the threat to public safety posed by extremists 
     groups, both domestic and international has grown, and the 
     FBI has tirelessly worked to prevent acts of terrorism 
     against Americans at home and abroad;
       Whereas the FBI provides law enforcement services through 
     its disaster response team, identification services and 
     Laboratory to further the cause of justice through science 
     throughout the United States;
       Whereas since its inception, 34 FBI special agents have 
     given their full measure of duty in laying down their lives 
     in the service of their country; and
       Whereas for a century the men and women of the FBI have 
     pledged to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of 
     the United States and, with such, exemplified their motto 
     ``Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) congratulates the men and women of the Federal Bureau 
     of Investigation (FBI) on the occasion of its 100th 
     Anniversary;
       (2) honors the heroic sacrifice of the Bureau's employees 
     who have given their lives, or have been wounded or injured, 
     in the service of our Nation; and
       (3) gives heartfelt thanks to all the men and women of the 
     FBI for their past and continued efforts to protect and 
     defend the American people from threats both domestic and 
     foreign, and their dedication to the pursuit of justice 
     through the rule of law.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extent their remarks and 
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 410 recognizes the great 
accomplishments, sacrifices, and service of the men and women of the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation on the occasion of the Bureau's 100th 
anniversary.
  In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt and Attorney General Charles 
Bonaparte established a new Federal investigative agency consisting of 
a small force of special agents to assist States in combating crimes 
occurring across State lines. Little could they have envisioned that 
their idea would have evolved into one of the most foremost 
investigative agencies in history. It is fitting that we honor the men 
and women who have brought the FBI that stature.
  Over the course of its existence, the Bureau's men and women have 
proven time and again that when the Nation calls upon them, they are 
ready to meet any challenge. They have worked tirelessly to stem 
foreign threats against the United States during two world wars and the 
Cold War by investigating espionage and sabotage on American shores. 
The FBI helped to keep our Nation safe, and over the course of time 
became one of the foremost professional espionage investigative 
agencies in the world.
  The FBI's been called upon on numerous occasions to protect the civil 
rights of Americans and to bring justice to those who violate them. 
Today, the FBI remains the foremost Federal law enforcement agency for 
investigating serious civil rights violations.
  The FBI has been called upon to investigate various types of violent 
crime, organized criminal enterprises, international fraud schemes, and 
financial and other forms of white-collar crime.
  Today, as the Internet has so vastly expanded and transformed the 
world communication and commerce, we have tasked the FBI with 
protecting us against cyber-based attacks and high technology crimes. 
The Bureau, for example, investigates computer fraud, child 
pornography, theft of intellectual property, and worldwide computer 
intrusions.
  The FBI has responded to threats to public safety posed by violent 
extremist groups, both domestic and international, tirelessly working 
to prevent crimes of terrorism against Americans at home and abroad. 
Their accomplishments are nothing less than extraordinary.
  Sadly, Mr. Speaker, these accomplishments have not been without a 
tragic cost. Since its inception, 34 FBI special agents have made the 
ultimate sacrifice: giving their lives in the line of service. Every 
day, FBI special agents face the risks and endure the hardships to make 
our Nation safe. They truly personify the Bureau's motto: Fidelity, 
Bravery, and Integrity.
  So it is fitting that we congratulate the men and women of the FBI on 
the 100th anniversary of the Bureau. We honor their heroic commitment 
and sacrifices and thank them for their past and continued efforts to 
keep America safe.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, the ranking member of the 
subcommittee, Mr. Gohmert, the sponsor of the resolution, the committee 
chairman, Mr. Conyers, and the committee ranking member, Mr. Smith, for 
their leadership on this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleague on a bipartisan basis to 
recognize that in the 100 years since President Theodore Roosevelt 
created the FBI out of basically an assemblage of Secret Service agents 
and detectives, what we have done is we have grown 1,000-fold in the 
number of agents. Clearly today with 30,000 employees, you ask how 
large has the task of the FBI grown. It has grown 1,000-fold.
  Whether in fact it was taking on public corruption throughout this 
last 100 years or taking on racketeering, white collar crime, taking on 
the rubble of the Oklahoma City bombing and finding out who the true 
perpetrators were and bringing them to justice, or going after 
wrongdoing by the most hidden and most influential of corporate 
America, the FBI has spread out to do its job and do it well.
  The Bureau, in fact, has taken the next step since September 11 when 
its primary task became protecting us from another terrorist attack 
like the one we experienced in New York, in Washington, and 
Pennsylvania. Those attacks made it very clear that this elite agency 
had to do more.
  Today more than ever the FBI agents who are spread throughout the 
world in every embassy and in locations not even known to this body, 
they deal with counterterrorism in a way that no other agency can. 
Working hand-in-hand with overseas entities who have the charge for 
that, they make it their business to ensure that that foreign terrorism 
doesn't become an American tragedy.
  No other group is so prepared to recognize the needs of America and 
the civil rights of America. The FBI has been a critical tool for 
President after President to enforce our civil rights laws often 
against the powerful, even against governors and other elected 
officials who chose not to recognize the importance of the U.S. 
Constitution.
  The FBI has never been a partisan organization and has, in fact, 
served each and every administration in a way that we today commemorate 
and appreciate so much.
  Once again, Mr. Speaker, for the first 90-plus years, the FBI was 
important. After September 11, 2001, the FBI's expanded role is vital.
  With that, I urge the passage of this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 410.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

[[Page H8088]]

  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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