[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 71 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 13, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 754) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for 
     Intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the 
     United States Government, the Community Management Account, 
     and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability 
     System, and for other purposes:

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Chair, I rise reluctantly to correct the record.
  Mr. Reed and Mr. Dreier appear to be confused. What they said about 
my remarks regarding my two amendments to H.R. 754 is false.
  The source of my dissatisfaction was not that the Rules Committee was 
going to rule one or both of my amendments out of order. I was not 
frustrated with the Rules Committee for any reason.
  My dissatisfaction stems from the refusal of the House Republican 
leadership to bring something like Senate Resolution 159 to the House 
Floor. This bipartisan resolution passed the Senate 97 to 0 and 
provided recognition for everyone involved in the death of Osama bin 
Laden. Passing something akin to Senate Resolution 159 in the House 
would have been the best way to mark this momentous occasion and, as 
such, I filed the same text as an amendment with the Rules Committee. 
Unfortunately, this amendment is not germane, a fact Mr. Dreier 
acknowledges. I withdrew that amendment before consideration by the 
Rules Committee.
  I also filed a second, narrower amendment with the Rules Committee, 
based on Senate Resolution 159, that is germane to H.R. 754. That 
germane version is identical to the amendment offered today by Mr. 
Reed. As I said earlier on the House Floor, I did not feel that such a 
narrow amendment adequately honors all of those responsible for 
eliminating bin Laden. I decided not to pursue my version of this 
amendment and thus I withdrew it from consideration by the Rules 
Committee. I never made any comments as to whether the Rules Committee 
was going to say this narrower amendment was or was not germane or was 
or was not in order before I withdrew it. I support Mr. Reed's 
amendment because at least it gives the House some chance to say thank 
you to our intelligence services.
  Additionally, Mr. Dreier submitted to the Congressional Record the 
letter I filed with the Rules Committee asking that both of my 
amendments be withdrawn. However, for some reason only part of my 
letter was incorporated. I am including with my remarks the complete 
text of the letter I filed with the Rules Committee.
                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2011.
     Hon. David Dreier,
     Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Rules,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Louise M. Slaughter,
     Ranking Member, House of Representatives, Committee on Rules,
     Washington, DC.
  Dear Chairman Dreier and Ranking Member Slaughter: Yesterday I 
submitted two amendments to H.R. 754, the Intelligence Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2011. I am writing to withdraw from consideration 
both amendments, Nadler-Bishop-Slaughter-Owens Amendment No. 2, 
NADLER__ 025.XML, and Nadler-Bishop-Slaughter-Owens Amendment No. 1, 
NADLER_024.XML.
  Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your time 
and attention.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jerrold Nadler,
     Member of Congress.

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