Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. NUNES. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 6237, the Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019.

Passing an annual intelligence authorization bill is the most important tool Congress has to conduct effective oversight of the intelligence activities of the United States Government.

Today, the Intelligence Committee is bringing its annual intelligence authorization bill to the floor. Once again, the bill is a bipartisan product that reflects contributions from all committee members. It was reported out of the committee by a unanimous voice vote.

The legislation provides the intelligence community the necessary resources and authorities to protect and defend the United States. For example, this bill authorizes a committee initiative to streamline defense intelligence related to the Defense Intelligence Agency. It enhances congressional oversight of intelligence activities by mandating intelligence community reports on threats to Federal elections, leaks of classified information, security clearance processing, and other vital activities. Furthermore, the bill increases pay for employees with unique cyber skills and creates a security center at the Department of Energy to protect our energy infrastructure.

Mr. Chairman, the bill authorizes enhanced injury benefits to CIA employees injured overseas due to hostile acts of terrorist activities. Moreover, it reauthorizes the Public Interest Declassification Board, aligns the reporting structure of the intelligence community chief financial officer and chief intelligence officer with statutes that govern other Federal agencies, and codifies longstanding congressional reporting requirements regarding the intelligence community information technology environment.

Mr. Chairman, the intelligence community comprises thousands of patriotic Americans who do difficult jobs, sometimes at great personal risk, to keep Americans safe from foreign threats. Today, these threats take many different forms and emanate from various parts of the world.

In the Middle East, the threat from ISIS has not ceased, despite its dramatic loss of territory. In fact, our intelligence professionals now face the daunting task of tracking ISIS fighters fleeing Syria for countries throughout the region and beyond.

Meanwhile, Iran is solidifying its influence, often through armed proxy militias, in its quest to control a Shiite Crescent across a wide swath of the Middle East.

In Asia, China poses numerous security challenges related to its expanding military capabilities, its growing international force projection, and its extensive extraterritorial claims. Additionally, the Chinese regime is engaged in widespread efforts, including licit and illicit means, to acquire critical U.S. national security technologies and intellectual property.

Furthermore, Russia continues to pose a pressing threat to the United States and many of our allies.

This is just a small snapshot of the threats the intelligence community addresses every day.

Additionally, our intelligence professionals confront an array of challenges posed by failed states, cyber warfare, nuclear proliferation, and many other matters.

This bill will ensure that the dedicated men and women of our intelligence community have the funding authorities and support they need to carry out the mission to keep the United States safe, while providing Congress with the tools it needs to provide robust oversight over their actions.

I would like to thank the men and women of this country who serve in our intelligence community. I am honored to get to know so many of them in the course of the committee's oversight work.

I would also like to thank all of the committee's members for their contributions to our oversight over the past year, and especially to our subcommittee chairmen and ranking members for their time and their efforts. The many hearings, briefings, and oversight visits our members carry out during the year provide the input for this authorization and the direction of this bill.

Finally, I would like to thank all the committee staff for their hard work and for their daily oversight of the intelligence community.

House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC, July 11, 2018. Hon. Devin Nunes, Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Nunes: I am writing to you regarding H.R. 6237, the ``Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019.'' The bill includes provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security.

I recognize and appreciate the desire to bring this legislation before the House of Representatives in an expeditious manner, and accordingly, the Committee on Homeland Security will forego action on this bill. However, this is conditional based on our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 6237 at this time does not prejudice the Committee on Homeland Security with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matter contained in this bill or similar legislation.

This waiver is also given with the understanding that the Committee on Homeland Security reserves its authority to seek conferees on any provision within its jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference that may be convened on this or similar legislation, and requests your support for such a request.

I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 6237, and ask that a copy of this letter and your response be included in the Congressional Record during consideration of this bill on the House floor. I look forward to working with the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence as this bill moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Michael T. McCaul, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, July 11, 2018. Hon. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 6237, the Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019. As you noted, certain provisions of the bill are related to the jurisdictional interests of the Committee on Homeland Security. I agree that your letter in no way diminishes or alters the jurisdiction of the Committee on the Homeland Security with respect to the appointment of conferees or any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or any similar legislation.

I appreciate your willingness to assist in expediting this legislation for floor consideration. I will include a copy of your letter and this response in the Congressional Record during consideration of the legislation on the House floor. Thank you for your assistance with this matter. Sincerely, Devin Nunes, Chairman.

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Mr. NUNES. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I thank the staffs on both the majority and minority sides. They do put in a lot of effort. It is one of the smallest staffs in the Capitol of any committee, so we are thankful that we were able to get this bill done in a bipartisan manner. We look for its passage on the floor this afternoon.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. NUNES. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, though I am not opposed.
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Mr. NUNES. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank all of the Members who offered amendments today. This is a critical piece of legislation, and I look forward to working with the Senate to send this bill to the President.

This year's bill is named after Matthew Young Pollard, who passed away earlier this year while carrying out the work of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Matt was a friend to many on both sides of the aisle of our committee, a dedicated staff member, and a member of the Army National Guard. While his loss is devastating to us, we honor his service to the United States by naming this bill in his memory.

I thank the ranking member for his support on this bill, I urge passage of the amendment, and urge passage of H.R. 6237, the Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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