[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 15, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3799-H3800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    WORK IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO DEFEAT RUSSIAN ELECTION INTERFERENCE

  (Mr. GAETZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, by expanding American energy, expelling 
diplomats, and ensuring that the United States takes its position in 
the world, President Trump has been tougher on Russia than any 
President in a generation.
  But the fact remains that the Russian military attacked the U.S. 
election. And so it would seem reasonable that, along with the 
Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the CIA, we would want 
the United States military offering the full suite of capabilities, 
both offensive and defensive, to combat Russian election interference.
  Today, the House Armed Services Committee held a classified briefing 
on the U.S. military and their participation in this critical mission. 
I was deeply disappointed in what I learned.
  The U.S. military is not sufficiently engaged or informed on critical 
aspects of the Russian election interference campaign. They don't even 
know which two Florida counties were hacked.
  And when DOD sent 11 people to go work with the Department of 
Homeland Security to have the full suite of

[[Page H3800]]

authorities available to respond to Russia, they were told they weren't 
needed.
  Russia has a whole-of-government approach to this problem, and I 
would urge us to work in a bipartisan way in the Defense Authorization 
Act to ensure that we are ready with our full authorities to defeat 
Russia and their efforts to interfere with our election.

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