Providing for Consideration of H.R. 754, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
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.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source