[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 7199-7204]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 754, INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT 
                          FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 264 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 264

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule 
     XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     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. The 
     first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points 
     of order against consideration of the bill are waived. 
     General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not 
     exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair 
     and ranking minority member of the Permanent Select Committee 
     on Intelligence. After general debate the bill shall be 
     considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. It shall 
     be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose 
     of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the 
     nature of a substitute recommended by the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence now printed in the bill. The 
     committee amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be 
     considered as read. All points of order against the committee 
     amendment in the nature of a substitute are waived. No 
     amendment to the committee amendment in the nature of a 
     substitute shall be in order except those printed in the 
     report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this 
     resolution. Each such amendment may be offered only in the 
     order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member 
     designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall 
     be debatable for the time specified in the report equally 
     divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, 
     shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject 
     to a demand for division of the question in the House or in 
     the Committee of the Whole. All points of order against such 
     amendments are waived. At the conclusion of consideration of 
     the bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report 
     the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been 
     adopted. Any Member may demand a separate vote in the House 
     on any amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole to the 
     bill or to the committee amendment in the nature of a 
     substitute. The previous question shall be considered as 
     ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage 
     without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with 
     or without instructions.

                              {time}  1220

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 1 
hour.
  Mr. SESSIONS. For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 
30 minutes to my friend the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Hastings), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the 
purpose of debate only.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SESSIONS. House Resolution 264 provides for a structured rule 
designated by the Rules Committee for consideration of H.R. 754. This 
rule allows for nine of the amendments submitted to the Rules Committee 
to be made in order.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying 
bill. The fiscal year 2011 budget process began last Congress with 
about a dozen hearings and Member briefings and continued into this 
Congress with more briefings and negotiations. This legislation was 
introduced by the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence, the gentleman from Michigan, Mike Rogers, and has gone 
through regular order to achieve its presence on the floor today. H.R. 
754 was marked up in the Intelligence Committee and the chairman of the 
Rules Committee, the gentleman from California, David Dreier, provided 
a structured amendment process for nine additional amendments from 
Republicans and Democrats to be considered today on the House floor.
  The bill we are discussing today authorizes the intelligence and 
intelligence-related activities of the United States Government for 
fiscal year 2011 in order to enhance the national security of the 
United States, to support and assist the Armed Forces of the United 
States, and to support the

[[Page 7200]]

President of the United States in the execution of the foreign policy 
of the United States of America. This bill is a vital tool for 
congressional oversight of the classified activities of the 
intelligence community, and it is critical to ensuring that our 
intelligence agencies have the resources and authorities they need to 
accomplish this important work on behalf of keeping America free.
  The primary vehicle for exercising credible congressional oversight 
over our intelligence agencies is the intelligence authorization bill. 
Yet we have not passed a bona fide intelligence authorization bill in 6 
years. Although the National Security Act requires intelligence 
activities to be specifically authorized, in recent years certain 
appropriation bills have included language that would ``deem'' the 
intelligence funding to be authorized. This procedure meets the 
statutory requirement but has weakened the ability, I believe, of 
Congress in its oversight of intelligence activities in recent years.
  The U.S. intelligence community plays a critical role in the war on 
terrorism and securing our country from the many other threats we face 
as a Nation. The recent killing of the terrorist Osama bin Laden is a 
clear example of the important work our intelligence agencies are doing 
behind the scenes every single day to protect America and Americans. 
Keeping the laws governing our intelligence operations up to date and 
ensuring that there are no unnecessary barriers in the way of future 
successes are exactly why we are here today and seek the authorization 
to pass an annual intelligence bill today.
  The intelligence authorization bill funds all U.S. intelligence 
activities, spanning 17 separate agencies. Last year, this funding 
totaled roughly $80 billion. Our Nation's current challenging fiscal 
circumstances demand that Congress fulfill its duties and provide the 
appropriate accountability and financial oversight of our classified 
intelligence programs through an authorization bill yearly. 
Additionally, this bill will ensure that Congress funds the 
requirements of the brave and dedicated men and women in the 
intelligence community, military and civilian, many of whom directly 
support the war zones or are engaged in other dangerous operations that 
keep Americans safe.
  The underlying legislation provides oversight and authorization for 
critical intelligence activities, including global counterterrorism 
operations such as the one that took out the terrorist Osama bin Laden, 
tactical intelligence support to support combat units in Iraq, 
Afghanistan, and wherever else they're needed around the world, 
cyberdefense, detecting and countering weapons of mass destruction, 
global monitoring of foreign militaries, weapons tests, and arms 
control treaties. Additionally, this bill's classified annex provides 
detailed guidance on intelligence spending, including adjustments to 
costly programs.
  This bill takes an important step forward in the intelligence 
community to help them meet the same financial accounting standard as 
other parts of the government. These accounting standards will help 
uncover savings in the current programs that can be reinvested into 
vital programs and priorities or returned to the American taxpayer.
  I was very pleased this week when the gentleman from Michigan, 
Chairman Mike Rogers, and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Ruppersberger), who represents the minority, came to the Rules 
Committee to talk about the needs of the intelligence community. In 
particular, I was very pleased as they worked so closely together to 
ensure that the issues that were contained within this document, the 
agreements that would be in law, and perhaps more importantly, the 
important relationships that would be shared by them as we work 
together to ensure that this country is safe, that we do so in a way 
where the American people see that keeping America safe, providing the 
necessary resources to the men and women of the intelligence community 
and expecting the results that would come from them, is a very 
important part of what our job as Members of Congress is all about.
  I applaud Chairman Mike Rogers of Michigan for providing this 
Congress with a much needed intelligence authorization bill, and I 
appreciate the exhaustive process on a bipartisan basis not only that 
Chairman Rogers has led but that includes a return to regular order in 
the authorization of this important legislation. I rise in support of 
the rule and the underlying bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1230

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank my friend from Texas for yielding 
the time.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 754, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2011, authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for U.S. 
intelligence and intelligence-related activities within the 
jurisdiction of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, 
including the National Intelligence Program and the Military 
Intelligence Program, as well as for the Intelligence Community 
Management Account and for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement 
and Disability System.
  We are considering this legislation at an auspicious time. The death 
of Osama bin Laden and the disarray in the al Qaeda network comes as a 
result of years of painstaking effort by the hardworking men and women 
of the intelligence community, the military, President Bush, and 
President Obama's gutsy, courageous, and correct call on May 1 of this 
year. They succeeded admirably in carrying out a difficult and 
dangerous mission. This legislation codifies many of the lessons 
learned in recent years that led to Osama bin Laden's demise. It is 
important that we continue to provide the necessary resources to 
sustain the momentum the United States and its allies enjoy in the 
effort to protect our Nation and its citizens.
  As the former vice chair of the House Intelligence Committee, I 
personally know that the intelligence community is the first line of 
defense against those wishing to do us harm here at home and across the 
globe. Where terrorists or other elements, as we speak, are plotting 
attacks, planning operations, or are actively engaged in harming our 
citizens, the men and women of the intelligence community are devoted 
to acting on the information they gather to thwart those efforts. We 
owe them a debt of gratitude and our sincere thanks. These courageous 
men and women often work quietly, unnoticed, and too often, 
unrecognized, but nevertheless, they are critical to ensuring the 
security of our Nation.
  I have had the honor and privilege of meeting many of our 
intelligence professionals during my oversight travel as a member of 
the Intelligence Committee. I cannot overstate how much I appreciate, 
and am humbled by, their service. Over the past 10 years, our country 
has continued to make daily progress against threats, thanks to the 
service of those dedicated professionals. We must keep in mind, though, 
that in spite of our best effort, we still face many real threats, and 
we still have much work to do to get it right.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 754 provides detailed guidance and authorizes 
appropriations for the many agencies of the intelligence community, 
while also improving accountability and transparency. It is essential 
that we streamline and coordinate oversight for counterintelligence. 
H.R. 754 amends the Counterintelligence Enhancement Act of 2002 to 
require the national counterintelligence strategy to be aligned with 
the policies and strategy of the Director of National Intelligence.
  It is often reported that our government agencies come under 
cyberattack all day, every day, 365 days a year. International 
criminals, malicious individuals, and even other Nations are actively 
engaged in a constant effort to break into our cyber networks to obtain 
information, or to wreak havoc on the systems that govern our Nation's 
infrastructure, financial, military, diplomatic, and social networks. 
We must, of all things, be mindful of our responsibilities in that 
area. It can have a devastating impact if not properly attended.

[[Page 7201]]

  Finally, Mr. Speaker, we must consider diversity to be a mission 
imperative. I have stated time and again that the intelligence 
community is not diverse enough to successfully meet its requirements 
and achieve success on its missions. On February 26, 2010, the House of 
Representatives passed my amendment to H.R. 2701, the Intelligence 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, which required the Office of 
the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the heads 
of the elements of the intelligence community, to submit to Congress a 
report on the plans of each element of the community to increase 
diversity. The report is expected to be finalized in October of this 
year. Simply put, we need people who blend in, who speak the language, 
and understand the cultures in the countries that we are targeting. It 
is time for the intelligence community to get serious about improving 
diversity for the sake of our national security. If the intelligence 
community is to succeed in its global mission, it must have a global 
face.
  I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Lake Park, Minnesota (Mrs. Bachmann).
  Mrs. BACHMANN. I thank the gentleman from Texas, who's doing a 
wonderful job this morning managing this bill, Pete Sessions.
  Mr. Speaker, all of our Nation's great liberties depend on our 
national security. I think that's something that we can all agree on. 
This is a bipartisan issue. We're a Nation at war, and we're pitted 
against terrorists who are bent on destroying our very way of life. As 
the treasure trove of evidence, which we were so grateful to receive 
from Osama bin Laden's compound, confirms to us, the enemy is always 
adapting, always evolving, always plotting further attacks. We have to 
be informed, and we have to be one step ahead of the enemy at least.
  It's our intelligence community, Mr. Speaker, that gives us heroic 
service, day in and day out. This morning I had the privilege of being 
at our Nation's Central Intelligence Agency, and I want to commend them 
for the work that they do, the brilliant work that they did most 
recently to secure this number one target. Nearly all of it goes 
unrecognized, Mr. Speaker, until a moment like last Sunday evening, May 
1, when a grateful Nation learned that the men and women of our 
intelligence services, working hand-in-hand with those in military 
uniform, had brought about the demise of the world's most prominent and 
notorious terrorist, Osama bin Laden. Years of relentless and diligent 
pursuit yielded an overwhelming success.
  And that's why I'm so honored to be here on the floor today with my 
distinguished colleague from Texas (Mr. Sessions) to stand here on the 
House floor as a member of the Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence, calling on behalf of my colleagues, both Republican and 
Democrat, to pass the FY 2011 Intelligence authorization bill, because 
the American people have made it clear, Mr. Speaker.
  They've made it clear to us not only once but over and over again. 
They want this Congress to exercise the utmost seriousness when dealing 
with our Nation's spending crisis, and so this bill is a step in that 
direction. It ensures that there is proper congressional financial 
oversight, and I would like to tip my hat now to the Democrat ranking 
member, Dutch Ruppersberger, who has done a magnificent job, together 
with our chairman, Mike Rogers, in making sure that we work together as 
one, seamlessly, in a bipartisan fashion. I have been just so 
delighted. I've never served on a committee where I've seen greater 
bipartisanship because we've put down our partisan swords when it comes 
to securing the safety and security of our Nation.
  And this bill is a step in that direction, ensuring there's not only 
proper congressional financial oversight, something that was lacking 
unfortunately in the last 6 years, but we are dedicated to making sure 
that our responsible approach with intelligence does not sacrifice the 
security of our Nation, and this measure which funds our intelligence 
community will ensure that our intelligence community has the resources 
they so richly deserve.

                              {time}  1240

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased at this time 
to yield 3 minutes to my good friend, the ranking member of the 
Committee on Intelligence, the distinguished gentleman from Maryland 
(Mr. Ruppersberger).
  Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, first I want to recognize the 
distinguished vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Mr. 
Hastings, for his hard work over the course of his 8 years on the 
committee. I had the privilege of serving with Mr. Hastings, and know 
he was committed to supporting our intelligence professionals. He was a 
leader on the issue of diversity in the intelligence community, and I 
applaud him for those efforts. Having a diverse intelligence community 
workforce is not simply the right thing to do, but it is critical to 
our mission.
  Today, I am pleased to join my colleague and friend Michele Bachmann 
in support of H.R. 754, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2011. I thank her for her comments about partisan politics. The 
Intelligence Committee is a bipartisan committee that works together. 
The stakes are too high for us not to work together, and that's what 
we're attempting to do.
  Now, the killing of Osama bin Laden is clearly the most monumental 
intelligence achievement in recent history. Our intelligence 
professionals worked together as a team, brought Osama bin Laden to 
justice, and killed him. It was a risky mission that was executed with 
intense training and a high level of skill. These professionals risked 
their lives to keep our country safe, and no American lives were lost.
  I am pleased that Congress can provide the intelligence community 
with the resources, capabilities, authorities, and oversight they need 
to continue this great work. After months of negotiations and a number 
of changes to address many of the concerns of the administration, I 
believe this bill moves in a positive direction to assert congressional 
oversight over intelligence activities.
  I am also pleased that Chairman Rogers and I could come to an 
agreement to add additional counterterrorism positions to the CIA. With 
this change, I will support the bill. This bill adds several thousand 
civilian positions above the level enacted in FY 2010. There is also a 
large increase in personnel at the National Counterterrorism Center, 
which is the NCTC, among others. The bill adds hundreds of millions of 
dollars for intelligence above current levels. However, I urge a ``no'' 
vote on this rule because it does not allow all Members of Congress to 
offer amendments to this bill.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, with the election of this new large 
Republican class, some 87 new Members, we picked up, in particular, a 
Member who will speak here in just a second. He is a young man who 
devoted his life, not only to his country through his service in the 
military, but also to law enforcement. He comes to Washington from 
Florida where he had been a distinguished sheriff of a large 
department. He came to us with not only a thought and belief about 
securing this country and of making sure that we took care of our 
citizens, but perhaps more importantly, he is a clear thinker on seeing 
not only intelligence issues but also the broader context of protecting 
this country. He has a son who serves in the military, and he has been 
very thoughtful.
  I yield 3 minutes to a member of the Rules Committee, the gentleman 
from Brooksville, Florida (Mr. Nugent).
  Mr. NUGENT. I thank my colleague from Texas (Mr. Sessions), with whom 
I have the pleasure of serving on the Rules Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule, H. Res. 264, and 
the underlying legislation, H.R. 754.
  About a week and a half ago, we all learned that justice had been 
served: justice for our civil servants working

[[Page 7202]]

in the Kenya and Tanzania Embassies in 1998, justice for our troops 
serving on the USS Cole in 2000 and justice for the innocent victims of 
September 11, 2001.
  After many years of hard, stealthy intelligence work, we found Osama 
bin Laden's hideout in Pakistan. Based upon this information, a highly 
trained team of Navy SEALs came in, performed its mission and rid the 
world of one of history's most evil and notorious terrorists.
  Mr. Speaker, this would not have been possible without the work of 
our hardworking intelligence community. It was President Bush who laid 
the groundwork for this intelligence that ultimately made all of this 
possible, and it was President Obama who put this information together 
and made the gutsy call that only a Commander in Chief can make. Both 
of these men deserve our thanks for the work they did to make this 
possible.
  It is our duty as Members of Congress to ensure that our intelligence 
community has the tools it needs to continue to keep our Nation safe. 
That is what H.R. 754 does. As a prior law enforcement officer, I can 
attest to the value of good Intel in apprehending those who would do 
dastardly things to our country.
  With that, I encourage my colleagues to support the rule, to support 
the underlying bill, and to support the intelligence community, which 
is keeping this Nation safe.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased at this time 
to yield 2 minutes to my good friend, a member of the Judiciary 
Committee, the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Hastings, thank you for your service 
years on the Intelligence Committee, and I thank the ranking member and 
the members who are on the floor.
  I rise to support the underlying bill and the rule, recognizing that 
human intelligence and the resources that provide a safety net for the 
American people are crucial--the CIA, the Department of Defense and 
other intelligence civilian agencies, along with the United States 
military.
  I introduced H. Res. 240 to chronicle the successful apprehension and 
demise of Osama bin Laden, to actually emphasize, when combined 
together, the brawn and intellect of the United States military. The 
human intelligence over the years and the work of President Clinton, 
President Bush and President Obama in the strategic decision that had 
to be made by the civilian minds, in working with the military minds, 
has emphasized the constitutional values of this country that 
civilians, in working with the military, can, in fact, provide the 
armor protection of the United States of America. I am very grateful 
for that genius, and I want to thank them. Our legislation had over 50 
cosponsors.
  As well, I believe now that we can actually say in good conscience: 
Bring the troops home from Afghanistan. Our mission is accomplished. We 
realize that human intelligence can help us target those who want to do 
us harm, and we have the constitutional fabric, along with the United 
States military, the likes of JSOC and many others in the intelligence 
community, who work on behalf of the American people. We can bring home 
the men and women--over 100,000--who are based now in Afghanistan.
  Do you know what? Mother's Day was this past weekend, and sadly, 
soldiers fell in battle on Mother's Day. Let us not have another 
Mother's Day when some mother in America, somewhere, loses a child to 
the battle in Afghanistan, not when we can use smart power and use 
intelligence and use a minimum of force.
  It is time now for America to welcome home her heroes with honor and, 
as well, to thank those who dedicated the brawn and the intellect that 
could make good on a promise that, yes, you will come to justice if you 
do harm to the American people.
  I ask support for the underlying legislation and the rule.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I do understand that the Democratic Party 
is interested in leaving Afghanistan now that Osama bin Laden has been 
killed.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. SESSIONS. I yield to the gentleman.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I would just urge my colleague not to use a 
broad reference with reference to the Democratic Party. Everybody in 
the Democratic Party does not agree that we should leave Afghanistan 
until the administration and the military and the intelligence 
community have completed their work.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Thank you.
  Reclaiming my time, I appreciate and respect the words, not only from 
my friend, but I believe he is absolutely correct. I simply hear the 
drumbeat that comes out of this town about leaving now that there has 
been a big victory in dealing with the number one terrorist in the 
world.
  I would suggest to you that there is still much work left to be done 
and that we must not change the focus of the men and women who today 
are in harm's way. We should not change the focus of the American 
people in getting them away from the job that is being done on a day-
to-day basis and that we should not begin the drumbeat until we have 
further completed the work that is necessary to ensure that this 
country is safe.

                              {time}  1250

  Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 2 minutes to a young 
member of the Rules Committee, a gentleman who served as mayor of 
Corning, New York, and a man who has dedicated himself to public 
service, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed).
  Mr. REED. I thank my colleague from Texas for the opportunity.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule for H.R. 754, the 
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011.
  Mr. Speaker, the intelligence community works long hours in distant 
parts of the world to keep our country safe. But the thing about the 
United States intelligence community is that when they do their job 
right, no one knows about it. When they are successful in that 
diligence that they perform every day of the week, 24 hours a day, 
every day of the year, we often do not hear about that success.
  I stand here today, Mr. Speaker, to commend the diligent, painstaking 
work of the United States intelligence officials for all that they do. 
And in particular, I stand today to recognize the hard work of our 
intelligence community which resulted in capturing and killing the man 
who masterminded the multiple attacks which killed thousands of 
Americans, bringing him to justice this past week. Thanks to the 
intelligence professionals who work for our country, the world is a 
safer place without Osama bin Laden.
  I have an amendment with my colleague from New York (Mr. Grimm) that 
will be discussed on this floor tomorrow, and hopefully supported and 
voted upon in a bipartisan fashion, to recognize the efforts of those 
intelligence officials.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise also today to commend the work that is being done 
here in this Chamber, that is being led by this side of the aisle in 
having an open dialogue, in having an open process. We have nine 
amendments that are going to be considered under this rule and in this 
Chamber tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, that is a direct change from the history 
that has been demonstrated here for years prior to us coming here. It 
is time that we on this side of the aisle recognize that we are going 
to listen to the American people. We are going to have an honest 
conversation with the American people about the issues that we face on 
a day-to-day basis. And as such, I stand today and urge my colleagues 
to vote ``yes'' on this rule and ``yes'' on H.R. 754.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Corpus Christi, Texas (Mr. Farenthold), another one of 
our brand-new Members, who brings to this House and to the floor not 
only a commonsense element but the insistence that people from Corpus 
Christi be represented on the floor of this House in such a way that 
will benefit not only our country but also the United States

[[Page 7203]]

military and, in particular, the United States Navy that has a large 
base in Corpus Christi.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. It's almost like a fog has been lifted over America. 
We sought to capture or kill Osama bin Laden for 10 years; and just 
recently, that was accomplished. And it's almost as if the sun is a 
little bit brighter and the can-do American spirit has been revived, 
that same spirit that took us to the Moon, that same spirit that has 
led us to victory in the past.
  Our intelligence community is key to that success, as is our 
military. It is absolutely imperative that we support and back the 
intelligence community that provides us the knowledge and information 
that not only helps us win wars but, more importantly, keeps us out of 
war.
  Knowledge is power. What we know about beforehand gives us the 
opportunity to stop conflicts before they happen. We are also in an era 
of a tight budget now. We are looking at an authorization bill that 
increases and provides adequate oversight to our intelligence to make 
sure those resources are being spent wisely and are being spent in the 
defense of this Nation, in the furtherance of our interests, and in the 
furtherance of freedom.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SESSIONS. I would like to yield such time as he may consume to 
the young gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the chairman of the 
Rules Committee.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by expressing my appreciation 
to the distinguished vice chairman of the Rules Committee, my friend 
from Dallas, Mr. Sessions, for his management of this very important 
rule. And I think it's appropriate that Mr. Sessions is a manager of 
legislation that enjoys strong bipartisan support because he's always 
seeking a consensus on issues where we can find areas of agreement. And 
the fact is, we have been able to see the chairman and the ranking 
member of the Select Committee on Intelligence work together in a 
bipartisan way to deal with the very important security and 
intelligence needs of the United States of America.
  My new colleague from Corpus Christi has just said, What a great day 
for America, the day that we were able to see Osama bin Laden captured 
and killed, brought to justice. And I congratulate President Obama and, 
of course, all those who were involved. I congratulate President Bush 
who, from September 11 forward, was determined to bring Osama bin Laden 
to justice. And I congratulate all of the men and women in uniform, 
including those who, as of September 11, 2001, became part of the 
frontline--that being firefighters and law enforcement--right here on 
our soil because that was the day, for the first time ever, that we 
faced an attack on our soil.
  But this legislation, Mr. Speaker, is specifically designed to extend 
our appreciation and thanks, based on an amendment that we've made in 
order from our colleague from Staten Island, Mr. Grimm, to those in the 
intelligence community who have done such a spectacular job in dealing 
with the challenge of capturing and bringing to justice Osama bin 
Laden.
  We are going to have in this bill a number of amendments made in 
order. I am particularly proud that as we worked with the members of 
the Intelligence Committee, recognizing that obviously this bill deals 
with some very, very sensitive items that, frankly, can't be discussed 
here on the House floor, but with that in mind, we were able to make in 
order nine amendments that are going to be offered by Members; five 
amendments that will be offered by Democrats; four amendments offered 
by Republicans; and, as I said, the amendment that will allow for the 
longest period of debate to provide an opportunity for the Members of 
this House to discuss, and I know it will be, again, bipartisan 
appreciation to those in the intelligence community who have been able 
to have the success that we've witnessed most recently.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I think it's a great day for the United States of 
America to once again demonstrate the global leadership role that we 
provide not only economically and geopolitically but through our 
security, intelligence, and military strength.
  I urge my colleagues to support both this rule, which, again, will 
allow for free-flowing debate and an opportunity for both parties to 
participate, and the underlying legislation itself.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would in some respects 
reiterate much of what our colleagues have said with regard to Osama 
bin Laden. For 10 years, he held the title of scourge of the Earth. And 
I believe all of us are pleased that to the degree that he contributed 
to injustice, justice, as it pertains to him, has finally been served.
  It is my hope that the families of the terrible events that 
transpired on 9/11 and the USS Cole and the families of the East 
African embassy bombings can find just a little more solace and just a 
little more closure as a result of his demise at the hands of 
extraordinary work on behalf of a substantial number of courageous 
Americans.

                              {time}  1300

  As a Nation, I would ask that we be extremely mindful that al Qaeda 
has not been removed, nor has the sentiment of this very dangerous 
societal element, nor are they the only organized structure of radical 
extremists that would attack our Nation. We must remain ever vigilant.
  There was a bit of irony on May 1, 2011, that should not be lost on 
any of us. One of the events that transpired on that same day was that 
the late John Paul II, the Pope, was beatified and moved closer to 
sainthood. On May 1 that occurred. He spent his life blazing a path of 
enlightenment, peace, love, and uplifting humanity.
  The second event that occurred on that day was the demise of bin 
Laden, who spent his life lighting a path of murder, deceit, and the 
destruction of humanity. While one found, and is finding, sainthood, 
the other found Satan.
  It is a good thing that he is no longer a plague on the Earth, and 
the hope for humankind is that Pope John Paul II would be our exemplar 
of goodness.
  Given the immense security challenges facing our Nation, Congress 
should pass this legislation so that we may continue to fulfill our 
commitment to the safety and well-being of the American people.
  The men and women of the intelligence community may operate in the 
background, but they are at the forefront of our national defense and 
deserve every resource necessary to do their jobs.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule because, in spite of 
Mr. Reed, my colleague on the Rules Committee, and the distinguished 
chairman, my good friend, touting the fact that we do have a number of 
amendments and the time, this is not an open rule; and I would have 
them to know that if it were an open rule, then all Members would be 
able to offer an amendment to the bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, today we've had a distinguished group of 
speakers, including the gentleman, Mr. Hastings, who spent years of his 
service, not only on behalf of the people of Florida, but on behalf of 
all of us as he served on the Intelligence Committee.
  We have had Members walk in and out of here: the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina, Virginia Foxx, who brings a thoughtful articulation 
about her ideas about the protection of this country, not just for the 
people of North Carolina, but for the people of the United States.
  We've had the gentleman, a former sheriff, Mr. Nugent, a Member of 
Congress from Florida, also come and talk about their ideas about how 
you protect this country by protecting the men and women who are 
engaged in the active and day-to-day business.
  The gentleman, Mr. Hastings, referred to al Qaeda as not defeated. We 
still have a threat that is out there. The gentleman, Mr. Farenthold, 
talked most forthrightly and honestly about the need of the American 
people to have confidence and thanks for the intelligence community and 
that which they do.
  The gentleman, Mr. Ruppersberger, the ranking member of the 
Intelligence

[[Page 7204]]

Committee, as they bring their ideas forth in an open process that 
would be allowed in the committee, Intelligence Committee, and then to 
bring that forward as they would discuss that at the Rules Committee.
  Here on the floor of the House of Representatives it's an interesting 
dialogue that we get into about our hopes and desires about supporting 
the intelligence community. But we must remember that the need for our 
intelligence community and for them to have clear direction from this 
Congress is important.
  The killing of the most wanted terrorist in the world, Osama bin 
Laden, is a perfect example of the necessary intelligence information 
and support from this Congress for funds and the authorizing process, 
the oversight that is provided by the Congress.
  The men and women in this intelligence community and the Armed Forces 
serve this Nation; and they provide us victories, day-to-day victories, 
not only in keeping America safe, but victories with finding and 
killing terrorists around the globe who would harm America and our 
allies.
  The underlying bill today allows for that continued service by these 
brave men and women for the benefit of the American people.
  Six years ago is far too long for Congress to have skirted its 
responsibilities to aid and help the intelligence community with an 
authorization. Now is the time to ensure the appropriate 
accountability, responsibility, and that funding is given to the 
intelligence community to carry out their mission to keep America safe 
and to look forward, as might be said, over the horizon to ensure that 
whatever is next, they are prepared for it.
  I would like to applaud the chairman, the gentleman from Michigan, 
Mike Rogers; and the ranking member, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Ruppersberger); and the Intelligence Committee for this authorization 
bill as they work so well with the men and women of the intelligence 
community on a mission which is important for us to join in with the 
administration to ensure that our intents are very clear to them.
  We live in a dangerous time and in a dangerous world, and I feel much 
better protected knowing that this hard work is done by so many 
dedicated people.
  So I encourage a ``yes'' vote on the rule.
  I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question 
on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

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