Devin Nunes

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time to close.

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, first, I thank Mr. Phil Tubesing, who has been a congressional fellow with our committee for the last 2 years. This will be his last bill. He will be leaving us at the end of the month, so I wanted to recognize him for all his fine work on the bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill. This is typically how the bill has come to the floor from the Intelligence Committee. As nearly all the Members know, for the last several years that is how it has occurred. Unfortunately, we are beginning to deteriorate into political theater at the Intelligence Committee. As long as I am chairman, I am going to continue to try to stop that from happening. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. McClintock for yielding me the time and for his kind words. Mr. Chairman, I am not going to respond to the other side of the aisle because some things that are said on this floor are so ridiculous that they don't deserve a response. So I just want to talk today, Mr. Chairman, about the facts that we face in the San Joaquin Valley. So in the southern and central San Joaquin Valley, we have about 3 million acres of farm ground, land that is the most fertile farmland in the world--not just in the United States, in the world. We are in danger of losing about a third of that farmland largely because the leftwing government in California has overreached so far that they are now taking away people's private property rights. So I want to talk first about our water shortage. So this is the shortage of water that we have in the valley. So it is about 2.6 million acre feet are what we need on average to farm all of the land that we have historically farmed in our area. Now, these are farms that provide food for not only the people of the United States and all over the world but also for the families that work on these farms. So we hear a lot about drought, and we have had supposedly a severe drought, and it was no question a severe drought, but what the left continues to not want to talk about is all the water that gets dumped out into the ocean every year. So just from October of last year to just a couple days ago, 46 million acre feet of water have gone out to the ocean. So if you go back to the chart I just had, we are only short 2.6 million acre feet. So of the water that has flown into the delta in the middle of California, 92 percent of that water has gone out to the ocean, and it has been wasted. Now, some on the other side of the aisle, they continually talk about global warming, and they continually talk about how the oceans are rising. Well, if you believe the oceans are rising, why would you want more water to flow out into the ocean? I don't understand that. So this is about a million acres of farmland that is going to come out of production if we don't do anything about it. About 1 million acres over the next decade will begin to come out of production. In fact, some this year is already out of production because none of the water was moved early enough so that it could get to farms in time. So even though we have flooding--so this picture was taken just a couple days ago--this is water spilling over the top of the dam that is going to go all the way out into the ocean and be wasted, for an ocean that supposedly is rising because of global warming. So this is happening because, as Mr. McClintock said, we are not building water storage projects. So what this bill does is it reverts back to what the Founding Fathers of our State built, mostly Democrats, by the way. It was Democrats working with the Republicans who built this water system in California. So if we take the existing water system that we have, we add to that four or five facilities, like Mr. McClintock is talking about, all the land gets farmed, all the species get saved, everybody goes to work. What you will not hear from the left, and this is very disturbing, I only picked the least disturbing of all the pictures, but I think it is important for people here in Washington and all over the United States to understand this, this is just one family of many of thousands of families where their homes actually ran out of water. So this picture is not from Africa, it is not from somewhere in Southeast Asia. This is a picture from my area, from my district, from the central and southern San Joaquin Valley. These are people who are out of water. So the left always talks about wanting to protect people, wanting people to be able to work, yet we have people with no water in their homes, and yet they are willing to see 92 percent of the water flush right out by the Golden Gate Bridge and be wasted for an ocean that supposedly is filling up.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, on the legislative day of Thursday, June 29, 2017, I was unable to cast a vote on a number of rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: Rollcall 341--``Nay.'' Rollcall 342--``Yea.'' Rollcall 343--``Nay.'' Rollcall 344--``Yea.''

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and public service of William H. Hecht. Born in Tifton, Georgia, Bill received a Master's of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and an M.A. in philosophy from Washington University. After serving as a Lutheran pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, he became a campus pastor at the University of Oklahoma. Bill had a long history in both Missouri state politics and on the national stage in Washington, D.C. In 1967, he became the executive director of the Missouri State Republican Party. Two years later, he served as Vice President of the American Security Council, and in 1971 he became Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the House Committee on Internal Security. After serving as an advisor and spokesman for the Reagan for President Campaign, Bill founded the respected government relations firm Hecht, Spencer and Associates in 1981. Bill was well known for his political camaraderie and engaging conversation. He was a regular at the Capitol Hill Club, where he was respected by lawmakers for his sharp wit and political advice. Bill also took great pride in mentoring some of the brightest young minds in Washington, dedicating his time to getting to know countless young people and their families. Bill was always direct, and even in the digital media age he exemplified the value of authentic relationships and person-to-person communication. Outside of politics, Bill was deeply dedicated to his family and friends. He was a devoted husband, proud father, and loving grandfather. Bill touched the lives of many and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Section 3 of House Resolution 305, I am submitting the following explanatory material to accompany Division N--Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017--of H.R. 244, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Ranking Member Schiff and myself, I rise today to congratulate Richard ``Rick'' Ledgett on his retirement as the Deputy Director of the National Security Agency (NSA). With 40 years of government service, Rick has dedicatedly served his country, the NSA, and the Intelligence Community. Before beginning his tenure at the NSA, Rick spent 11 years in the United States Army working as a SIGINTer. At the NSA for the past 29 years, Rick has held a variety of operational, management, and technical leadership positions, including director of the agency's Threat Operations Center (NTOC) from 2012-2013 and most recently, serving as the agency's Deputy Director. Prior to his appointment at NTOC, Rick served in both the collection and cyber mission areas of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and was appointed as the DNI's first National Intelligence Manager for cyber. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, we would like to wish Rick Ledgett happiness, success, and good health as he begins retirement and to thank him for his service to his country, the NSA, and the U.S. Intelligence Community. Rick, best wishes on your retirement.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I wish to announce that the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has voted to make a classified report regarding Russian activities and intentions in the recent U.S. election available for review by all Members of the House. The classified report is available for review by Members at the offices of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in Room HVC- 304 of the Capitol Visitors Center. The committee office will be open during regular business hours for the convenience of any Member who wishes to review the report. I recommend that Members wishing to review the classified report contact the committee's chief clerk to arrange a time and date for that viewing. This will assure the availability of appropriately cleared committee staff to assist Members who desire assistance during their review of these classified materials. It is important that Members keep in mind the requirements of clause 13 of House Rule XXIII, which only permits access to classified information by those Members of the House who have signed the oath provided for in the Rules. In addition, the Committee's rules require that Members agree in writing to a nondisclosure agreement. The agreement indicates that the Member has been granted access to the classified report and that the Member is familiar with the rules of the House and the Committee with respect to the classified nature of that information and the limitations on the disclosure of that information.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, The following consists of the joint explanatory statement to accompany H.R. 6480, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (``Joint Explanatory Statement''). The Joint Explanatory Statement reflects further negotiations between the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (``the Agreement'') since the passage by the House, on November 30, 2016, of H.R. 6393--a previous version of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. The Joint Explanatory Statement shall have the same effect with respect to the implementation of this Act as if it were a joint explanatory statement of a conference committee. The Joint Explanatory Statement comprises three parts: (1) an overview of the application of the classified annex to accompany the Joint Explanatory Statement; (2) unclassified congressional direction; (3) and, in lieu of a full, section- by-section analysis and explanation of legislative text provisions, an identification of the differences between the text of H.R. 6480 and the text of H.R. 6393, including text provisions newly added by H.R. 6480, or changed by it.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 6480) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Intelligence Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to submit statements and extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 6480.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 3 p.m. on Monday, December 12, 2016.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6393) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 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.

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Stewart).

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 6393.

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Passing an annual intelligence authorization bill is the most important tool Congress has to conduct effective oversight of the activities of the United States Government. Today, Ranking Member Schiff and I are bringing a fiscal year 2017 intelligence authorization bill to the floor for the second time this year. When enacted, it will mark the seventh consecutive Intelligence Authorization Act. In May, H.R. 5077 passed the House with a strong bipartisan vote. I am pleased to say that this bill, H.R. 6393, is likewise a bipartisan product that reflects the contributions of all of the committee's members. The bill contains provisions from H.R. 5077 that won wide bipartisan support in May and, after extensive negotiations with the Senate, incorporates numerous provisions from S. 3017, which was reported by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in June. Because most of the intelligence budget involves highly classified programs, the committee's schedule of authorizations and the bulk of the committee's direction is found in the classified annex to the bill. This classified annex has been available in HVC-304 for all Members to review since yesterday. At the unclassified level, I can report that the total funding authorized by H.R. 6393 balances fiscal discipline and national security. This bill will keep the intelligence base funding at the same share of the Bipartisan Budget Act discretionary cap as in fiscal year 2016 and is consistent with the administration's amended budget request for overseas contingency operations. Furthermore, the bill funds the Military Intelligence Program in line with the levels of the conference version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. The agreed text preserves key committee, House, and Senate funding initiatives that are vital to national security. The bill funds high- priority initiatives not included in the President's request and trims requested increases that lack clear justifications. It reflects careful judgments as to which programs represent the best value for intelligence dollars in a challenging budget environment. The bill will ensure that the men and women of our intelligence community have the funding, authorities, and support they need to carry out their mission and to keep us safe. Before closing, I want to take a moment to thank the men and women of this country who serve in our intelligence community and thank the families of those who have lost their lives while serving in silence. I am honored to have gotten to know so many dedicated intelligence personnel in the course of the committee's oversight work. I would also like to thank all of the committee's members--majority and minority--for their contributions to this bill. The many hearings, briefings, and oversight visits by our members carried out during the year provide the inputs for the authorization and direction in this annual bill and ensure the intelligence community remains accountable to the robust oversight of the people's elected Representatives. I would like to thank my staff, including our staff director--Damon Nelson--George Pappas, Derek Harvey, Geof Kahn, Shannon Stuart, Michael Ellis, Scott Glabe, Jack Langer, Nick Ciarlante, Marissa Skaggs, Bill Flanigan, Lisa Major, Chelsey Campbell, Doug Presley, Andrew House, Steve Keith, and Angel Smith. I would also like to thank our two fellows from Los Alamos National Laboratory--Scott Miller and Phil Tubesing. I would also like to thank the committee's shared staff-- Brandon Smith, Kristin Jepson, and Kimberlee Kerr. In closing, I would like to thank Mr. Schiff, my ranking member, who has been just a pleasure to work with over the last couple of years. Without his work and his staff's hard work, we would not be in a position today in which we could stand up here with a strong bipartisan product. Mr. Speaker, I would like to outline the joint explanatory statement to accompany the Intelligence Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2017: JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT TO ACCOMPANY THE INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. We have four retiring members from our committee this year: Representative Murphy, who was already spoken about earlier, did a great job attending a lot of the committee hearings or almost all of the committee hearings. We also have Representative Jeff Miller, who served on this committee for a very long time and who is chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee; he is retiring. Also, Representative Lynn Westmoreland did a great job chairing our National Security Agency and Cybersecurity Subcommittee. Dr. Joe Heck, who chaired the Department of Defense Intelligence and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee, he is here on the floor with us this evening. Finally, it is possibly premature, but we may not be able to congratulate Representative Pompeo on the House floor. He will have to have Senate confirmation next year, so I imagine he will be with the committee for a few months. But if we don't get a chance to come down to the House floor before he is approved by the Senate, I want to congratulate Mr. Pompeo. We are quite excited to have somebody from our committee to be chosen in the next administration to run the CIA. I would urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, bicameral bill, H.R. 6393. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5077) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 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, as amended.

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill, H.R. 5077.

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Passing an annual intelligence authorization bill is the most important tool Congress has to conduct effective oversight of the intelligence activities of the U.S. Government. Today, Ranking Member Schiff and I are bringing the seventh consecutive intelligence authorization bill to the floor. I am pleased to say that, as in past years, this bill is a bipartisan product that reflects the contributions of all of the committee's members. It was reported out of the committee by a unanimous voice vote. Because most of the intelligence budget involves highly classified programs, the bulk of the committee's schedule of authorization and direction are found in the classified annex to the bill. The classified annex has been available in HVC-304 for all Members to review since Friday, April 29. At the unclassified level, I can report that the overall funding authorized by this bill is slightly above the President's budget request, but still below last year's enacted level. The overall funding is also consistent with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. Furthermore, the bill funds the Military Intelligence Program in line with the levels of the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. The bill funds high-priority initiatives not included in the President's request, trims requested increases that lack clear justifications, and reflects the committee's determinations of which programs represent the best value for intelligence dollars in a challenging budget environment. Mr. Speaker, today the threat level facing America is higher than at any time since 9/11. ISIL has established safe havens in Syria, Iraq, and Libya, and the group hopes to create caliphates stretching from Lebanon to Iraq, including Jordan and Israel. The goal of our counterterrorism strategy should be to deny safe havens from which terrorists can plot attacks against the United States and our allies. Regrettably, we have not prevented ISIL from establishing a safe haven, and the group has become skilled at hiding from Western intelligence services. ISIL members have used that breathing room to plan attacks in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and they are undoubtedly planning attacks against the homeland here in the United States. 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 their mission and to keep us safe. Before closing, I want to take a moment 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 like to thank all of the committee's members--majority and minority--for their contributions to our oversight over the past year, and especially our subcommittee chairmen and ranking members for their expertise on the programs within their subcommittees' jurisdiction. The many hearings, briefings, and oversight visits our members carry out during the year provide the inputs for the authorization and direction in this annual bill. I would also like to thank the staff of the committee for their hard work on the bill and for their daily oversight of the intelligence community. In particular, I would like to thank Shannon Stuart, Nick Ciarlante, Scott Glabe, Bill Flanigan, Lisa Major, Geof Kahn, Chelsey Campbell, Andrew House, Doug Presley, Steve Keith, George Pappas, Jack Langer, Crystal Weeks, Jake Crisp, and Diane Rinaldo. I would also like to thank our two fellows from the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Alex Kent and Philip Tubesing. All of these staff members spent long hours working on the legislative text and its classified annex, and the bill is stronger for it. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 5077, as amended. I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC, May 20, 2016. Hon. Devin Nunes, Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Nunes: I am writing to you concerning the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Homeland Security in H.R. 5077, the ``Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.'' 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 foregoing consideration of H.R. 5077 at this time does not prejudice this Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or any fixture 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 expressly reserves its authority to seek conferees on any provision within its jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference that may be convened on this or any 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. 5077, 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.

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.