[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 108 (Tuesday, July 19, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4670-S4671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           EXTENDING THE TERM OF FBI DIRECTOR ROBERT MUELLER

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak in strong support of 
S. 1103, the legislation before the Senate to extend the term of Robert 
Mueller, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  This is an important piece of legislation because without it, 
Director Mueller's term will end very soon, as he completes his 10 
years in office.
  That would leave the FBI, the Nation's leading law enforcement agency 
and the lead intelligence agency for domestic counterterrorism, without 
a Director as we approach the 10th anniversary of the September 11 
terrorist attacks.
  This would be unacceptable in my view. Unfortunately, unanimous 
consent to pass this legislation, S. 1103, is being held up. I urge my 
colleagues to approve this bill quickly.
  Earlier this year, the President conducted a search for a replacement 
for Director Mueller. He determined that the best choice for the 
nation, at this critical time, was not to replace him, but rather to 
seek a legislative extension to Director Mueller's term.
  The Judiciary Committee held a hearing with Director Mueller on June 
8, 2011, and has considered the text of this legislation, S. 1103. 
Under a proposed unanimous consent agreement circulated earlier this 
month, passage of this legislation would be followed by the President's 
formal nomination of Mr. Mueller for an additional 2 years, and the 
nomination will be placed directly on the Senate's Executive Calendar.
  I do not know of any Senator who does not respect and support 
Director Mueller. Over the past 10 years that he has been in office, 
Robert Mueller has provided steady leadership and stability at the FBI. 
He has worked to transform the Bureau into an agency that can better 
detect and prevent terrorist attacks against the United States.
  Under Mueller's direction, the FBI has played an essential role in 
more than 20 significant counterterrorism operations, while 
infiltrating and arresting groups of individuals charged with planning 
attacks against our country.
  The FBI has also built its cyber investigation capability, focused on 
counterintelligence, investigated public corruption cases, and tracked 
and disrupted gang activity.
  Despite the major setback of the September 11 attacks, the FBI is 
among our most respected government institutions, and it has changed 
dramatically to respond to the challenges of our time.
  Let me talk about Director Mueller for a moment, who is, personally, 
a symbol of integrity and dedicated public service. I am very pleased 
to call him my friend, and thank him for his willingness to continue to 
serve for another 2 years.

[[Page S4671]]

  I recognize that there were good reasons that Congress placed a term 
limit on the Director of the FBI. History has shown that the position, 
and the FBI, wield enormous powers and that the Bureau should not have 
a director for life.
  The legislation before us recognizes that concern, and creates a one-
time extension that would only apply to Director Mueller. Future FBI 
Directors would still be limited to a 10-year term.
  Extending Director Mueller's term at the FBI for an additional 2 
years will ensure the evolution of the FBI continues. It will provide 
important stability to the President's national security team during 
this sensitive and challenging time and while it is otherwise going 
through important leadership changes.
  This summer Leon Panetta has succeeded Robert Gates as Secretary of 
Defense, and GEN David Petraeus has been confirmed to be the next 
Director of the CIA, but because he is transitioning out of 
Afghanistan, General Petraeus won't arrive at Headquarters in Langley 
until after Labor Day.
  We are seeing changes in major military commands, and changes in the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff are coming soon. Also, the Senate Intelligence 
Committee, which I have the honor of chairing, is now considering the 
nomination of Matt Olsen to be the Director of the National 
Counterterrorism Center, NCTC, because Mike Leiter stepped down as the 
head of NCTC on July 8.
  So in the midst of this change, Director Mueller will be an 
experienced, steady hand among the President's national security 
advisers. The American people will be well-served having him in place.
  I support the legislation and urge its adoption. Now is not the time 
to keep it from passing.

                          ____________________