[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard

  Additionally, Mr. President, here we are on the floor of the Senate, 
and the Senate will vote soon on the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be 
the Director of National Intelligence. She has the right background, 
she has the right experience, and she has the right perspective to keep 
our Nation safe and to keep it secure.

  Congresswoman Gabbard has served in uniform for more than 20 years. 
She deployed to the Middle East several times. She serves in the 
military today and was recently promoted to lieutenant colonel. As a 
Member of Congress for 8 years, she served on the Armed Services and 
Foreign Affairs Committees.
  Her experience handling highly classified information is extensive. 
As Director of National Intelligence, she will handle classified 
information properly and lawfully. Congresswoman Gabbard is more than 
qualified to serve as the Director of National Intelligence.
  Now, we have heard a lot of debate about her, but not one Senator has 
disputed the simple fact that she took a hard line on Russia and on 
Iran. In 2013, Congresswoman Gabbard cosponsored the Nuclear Iran 
Prevention Act. She wanted severe sanctions on Iran. Well, why would 
the Democrats not like that? Oh, because they were part of the group, 
with President Obama, who wanted to appease Iran. No wonder they oppose 
her now. She opposed the Iran deal. She viewed it as a threat to both 
America and to Israel. And she was right. In 2014, Russia annexed 
Crimea. President Obama rejected sending tank-busting missiles to 
Ukraine. Remember what he sent? He sent blankets. Blankets.
  The sanctions that President Obama imposed against Russia were 
terribly weak. Congresswoman Gabbard argued for U.S. military 
assistance to Ukraine back then, and she called for painful sanctions 
against Russia, things that the Democrats and their President--Obama--
at the time were unwilling to do.
  Tulsi Gabbard never sought war with Russia, yet she never kidded 
herself, never would look back about the aggressive nature of Russia's 
ambitions. She worked to stop wars even though she served and was ready 
to fight in them. She knows what it means when we talk about peace 
through strength.
  Democrats attacked her patriotism. They attacked her loyalty. It is 
disturbing. There is no evidence to support that. The attacks on her 
are another case of Democrats equating political disagreement with 
disloyalty.
  If Washington wants to trust our intelligence Agencies again, we need 
to take an ax to the weaponization of these very Agencies. 
Congresswoman Gabbard will keep politics out of intelligence gathering. 
She wants to return ODNI to its original size, its scope, and its 
mission. She wrote in Newsweek:

       I promise to provide unbiased, timely, and accurate 
     intelligence for those making decisions to protect the people 
     of our country.

  That is exactly what we need.
  Tulsi Gabbard is the right choice to be the Director of National 
Intelligence, and I look forward to voting to confirm her later today.