Silvestre Reyes

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise to inform my colleagues on the other side that the men and women protecting this country are clear about their duties. They are focused on keeping us safe. They are not concerned about the political spin here. They are not concerned about the rhetoric that they hear. But they do appreciate actions more than rhetoric. I know because I have been around the world visiting them. I have been to talk to various groups in the intelligence community. They know that we appreciate the work that they do each and every day to keep us safe. And they are not going to be fooled, like the American people are not going to be fooled, by the rhetoric that comes up, the spin that they try to put on the manager's amendment, and in particular the reiteration of something that is fundamentally American, and that is we have a Constitution. We have rules that we all have to live by. We understand the law. And we have to have respect for that law. It does not undermine any of that. It is a good manager's amendment. I urge the adoption of the manager's amendment.

Mr. REYES. I would like to claim the time in opposition, even though I am not opposed to it.

Mr. REYES. I yield such time as she may consume to my friend from California (Ms. Harman).

Mr. REYES. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYES. Madam Chairwoman, I am prepared to accept the amendment, and want the record to reflect that Ms. Schakowsky from Illinois is very much in agreement with Mr. Hoekstra. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. REYES. I just want to thank the vice chair of our Intelligence Committee for his hard work. I know he's worked ever since he's been on the committee on this very important issue that keeps, I think, the face of the intelligence community reflecting the face of this Nation.

Mr. REYES. Madam Chair, I rise to claim time in opposition to the Burton amendment, even though I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. REYES. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I want to tell the gentleman I appreciate him wanting to honor the personnel of the Central Intelligence Agency. As I have said many times on the floor, I have had the privilege of visiting with members of the CIA and members of their families, members of the CIA throughout the world under probably the most difficult of circumstances. I understand the hardships that they face. Most recently, I was with family members and survivors of the Khost bombing, which illustrates the danger they put themselves in willingly to protect our country. I would also remind the gentleman that we should not mix and compare apples to oranges. There is a big difference between a training exercise that simulates waterboarding and waterboarding an individual for 183 times. That's a huge difference. The other thing I would point out is that when the last administration decided to take us down that road, that enhanced interrogation techniques would be authorized and approved. There has been a great amount of disagreement in terms of the legal authorization of these techniques, considered torture by most anybody's standards. I would also remind us that the CIA did not have any expertise in waterboarding. They had to actually go out and contract DOD personnel to be able to acquire that technique. It puts them in a tough situation. I will tell you what I hear from the men and women of the Central Intelligence Agency. They understand the difference between politics and bad policy. They understand the difference between doing the kinds of things that they are expected to do to keep our country safe and responding to the kind of political spin that, unfortunately, we hear about their work. But, the one thing that comes across when I hear from them is they appreciate the support that they receive from the Congress. They appreciate the fact that regardless of what side of the aisle we sit on, we respect the work that they do. We, despite all of the arguments that are proffered here in this great Chamber, in the final analysis they know that they have a job to do. They know that they have a duty to perform. They know that they are committed professionals and that they expect and deserve the support of every member of this Chamber. That's why I appreciate the gentleman's sponsoring this amendment. That's why I think we ought to accept it. I accept it. I think we ought to leave it at that and leave the politics and leave the rhetoric and remind ourselves that the message we need to send them is that we support their work. The message we should send them is that we honor them for their service to this great country. The message that we deliver to the families of those victims of the Khost bombing is that we will support them. We will have our differences politically, we will articulate those differences, but we will never stop supporting the great work that the men and women of the Central Intelligence Agency do for all of us. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. REYES. Madam Chair, I want to say I appreciate the amendment and the gentleman's interest. This amendment would require the director of the DNI to submit to the Intelligence Committees a report on the attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight No. 253. This report would provide an assessment on any failures to share information within or between elements of the Federal Government and the measures that the intelligence community has taken or will take to prevent such failures in the future. This report also covers issues such as analytic tradecraft, watch listing procedures, technical deficiencies, training database management. Many of the elements of this report mirror portions of the review of the DNI, which they are currently doing. Requiring the DNI to provide this report will allow the Intelligence Committees to conduct rigorous oversight on this important national security concern. Additionally, this amendment requires the DNI to submit responses to any findings or recommendations made by the Intelligence Committees. With that, Madam Chair, I fully support this amendment.

Mr. REYES. Madam Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill H.R. 2701.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. I thank the chairman for his work on this very important and vital issue and also for the opportunity to speak on an issue that is of such great importance to our country and to our country's national security. It is important that we reauthorize the expiring PATRIOT Act and the provisions that the brave men and women of the intelligence community continue to utilize and to have these tools that they need to keep us all safe. This 1-year extension will provide Congress the opportunity to examine important aspects of the PATRIOT Act and to make substantive changes that strike the right balance between protecting the rights of Americans and protecting our national security. Recently, I introduced H.R. 3969, the Counterterrorism Authorities Improvements Act of 2009. This bill makes improvements to the PATRIOT Act which will strengthen the tools used to combat terrorism and to enhance at the same time the privacy and the rights of Americans. Additionally, both the House and the Senate Judiciary Committees have passed PATRIOT Act reauthorization bills that would make important improvements in the law that will increase oversight while at the same time preserving critical intelligence authorities. Some of the more important changes proposed by the House and the Senate include: one, modifying the FISA standard for obtaining business records to ensure that the government is required to show a connection to terrorism; two, requiring a higher standard to obtain library or bookseller records; three, increasing public reporting on the use of national security letters and FISA, including their impact on the privacy of Americans, a right that we all cherish; and, finally, number four, requiring the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to conduct regular audits of the use of these authorities. I am confident that a 1-year extension will provide Congress with sufficient time to make these important changes. As always, Mr. Chairman, I look forward to working with you, especially in the coming year as we look at ways to make sure that we draw that balance between giving the men and women that keep us safe the ability to utilize essential and vital tools and also at the same time ensuring that the rights and the privacy of all Americans are protected. With that, I thank you for yielding.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, this week I was honored to participate in a very special ceremony that became a part of the proud history of the United States Border Patrol. I had the privilege of joining Dr. John ``Danny'' Olivas, one of NASA's great astronauts, in my congressional district to unveil a special U.S. Border Patrol flag that traveled with the crew of STS-128 to the International Space Station in August of last year. Before his mission to the International Space Station, Dr. Olivas approached me and generously offered to fly an item with him and his fellow crewmates into space. We felt that flying the banner of the Border Patrol would be a wonderful symbol to represent our nation's appreciation for the agency's outstanding professionals of the past, present, and future. The flag was flown 85 years after the U.S. Border Patrol was founded in 1924. As a fledgling agency, the Border Patrol had only a handful of agents who patrolled America's vast borders on horseback. Today, the agency boasts approximately 20,000 men and women who work to keep our nation secure at 20 sectors throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Dr. Danny Olivas and the crew of STS-128 traveled a total of 5.7 million miles during their mission, at speeds as high of 17,000 mph. Aboard this special journey was the banner of the United States Border Patrol. On January 26, I joined Dr. Olivas and Acting U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Fisher at the National Border Patrol Museum in El Paso, Texas, where the flag will be on permanent display. Dozens of agents, students, and community members were present to view the newest and most traveled exhibit in the museum's collection. At the event, Dr. Olivas told students that there are many ways to serve our great country, being a Border Patrol agent, a soldier, or an astronaut are but a few examples. He said, ``It takes everybody taking their own passions and putting through efforts to make our country what it is.'' I couldn't agree more. He encouraged students to follow their dreams and told them that he is living proof that everyone can achieve their dreams if they have the desire to do so. Danny claims that as a student, he wasn't the smartest, the most athletic, or the most talented; he was just your average kid. With the love and support from his parents and a strong interest in machines and outer space, Danny worked hard to fulfill his dream of one day becoming an astronaut. As a 26\1/2\ year veteran of the United States Border Patrol and former Sector Chief, I truly appreciate Dr. Olivas' efforts to recognize the men and women of the Border Patrol who work hard to protect our nation and to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. I. appreciation for his support of the Border Patrol, Dr. Olivas was designated as an honorary agent by Acting Deputy Customs and Border Protection Commissioner David Aguilar and was presented with a Border Patrol flag that was flown at all Border Patrol Sectors in the United States and signed by each of the Sector Chiefs. This honorary distinction has been awarded to only a handful of individuals in Border Patrol history, and I congratulate Dr. Olivas on this honor.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize and thank the El Paso Diabetes Association, its Executive Director, Mr. Henry Brutus, and his team for their continued leadership and dedication to educating our community about living with and preventing diabetes. The statistics regarding diabetes are staggering. Diabetes is an epidemic affecting nearly 24 million Americans and another 57 million with pre-diabetes. Every 24 hours, 4,100 people in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes. If current trends continue, one in three children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes at some point in their lifetime. For minority populations, this number is nearly one in two. In El Paso, as many as one in six people are currently living with diabetes, and many more are unaware that their lifestyle choices are putting them at risk or have already made them pre-diabetic. Diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, amputation, blindness, and kidney disease. In 2007, diabetes cost the United States $174 billion in direct and indirect costs. Locally that same year, El Paso hospitals incurred more than $75 million in emergency costs related to complications with diabetes. However, these complications and costs are for the most part preventable through education. It is important that we all understand how diabetes affects us, our families, and our community. Since 1968, the El Paso Diabetes Association has been an invaluable asset to my community by providing personalized services for those interested in learning about diabetes management and prevention. The organization's mission to promote education and early detection, empower people to take control of their health, and increase access to resources that make these goals possible are all exemplified by the work done by this year's Person of Vision. Dr. Robert Christenson has been involved, with the El Paso Diabetes Association for 15 years and started the ``In Control Teen Camp'' to teach young El Pasoans how to prevent the onset of diabetes by staying fit and eating healthy. His service to the organization and our community is making a positive impact on the lives of our youth and is stemming this growing epidemic. Dr. Christenson is most deserving of this honor, and I applaud his work and dedication to make El Paso a better and healthier place. Today, I am proud to recognize Dr. Christenson and everyone at the El Paso Diabetes Association, and I greatly appreciate all of their hard work for the betterment of our community.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1009) honoring the seven Americans killed in Khost, Afghanistan, on December 30, 2009, for their service to the United States, and for other purposes.

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this resolution.

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, on December 30, while many of us were watching football, traveling back from holiday visits with our families, or preparing to usher in the new year with loved ones, seven members of the Central Intelligence Agency family had their lives cut short in an attack on Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost, Afghanistan. This was the deadliest day for the CIA since the bombing of the Beirut Embassy in 1983. The news of this tragic loss was of particular personal sadness and difficulty for me. I had the privilege to meet the Khost team when I last visited Afghanistan on a committee oversight trip. I can attest that these men and women were among the finest America has to offer. They did not shy from the dangers they knew existed, and they believed in the mission they were asked to perform. They worked tirelessly in an environment that is always dangerous. I am proud of the work that they did and the work that their colleagues continue to do today to keep our country safe. The officers who died in Khost were true professionals. They were savvy officers who relied on years of experience to make judgments and to calculate risk. These men and women were deployed to an area of great danger and hardship, and they did so knowing that the worst could happen. But, they did it anyway, because we as a Nation are relying on them and colleagues like them to make the United States safe from the threat of terrorism. I realize that many people have a distorted vision of what it means to be part of the CIA family. Movies and books have made the life of a CIA officer seem exciting. It wasn't until I joined the Intelligence Committee that I fully understood the unique sacrifices that the men and women of the CIA and their families are willing to make in service to our Nation. In addition to the inherent dangers of the job, there are long separations from family and loved ones, often without explanation and on very short notice. Birthdays and holidays are spent in foreign corners of the world. To those who were wounded in the attack, let me just add my personal thanks for your service and wish you a full and speedy recovery. To the families of those who lost their lives on December 30, you have our deepest appreciation and gratitude. In this time of grief, please know that you are in our prayers and that this tragic loss will never be forgotten. It is my hope that you can find solace in the selfless, quiet devotion that these brave men and women gave for the safety and protection of our great Nation. They made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of all of us. And all Americans owe them, and you, a great debt for their commitment and dedication to a job that very rarely receives any kind of public recognition. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the Chair of the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel and a member of our Intelligence Committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, it is now my honor to recognize for 1 minute a former ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, and certainly someone that knows and understands the sacrifices that our men and women in the CIA make every day. We are fortunate to have her as the Speaker of the House.

Mr. REYES. It is now my honor to yield 2 minutes to my colleague on the Intelligence Committee, Mr. Schiff from California.

Mr. REYES. I now yield 3 minutes to the former ranking member on the Intelligence Committee and the current Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, a lady that I have had the privilege of traveling with around the world to visit our men and women in the intelligence community, Ms. Harman from California.

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Sutton).

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to a valiant member of the Intelligence Committee and the chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee, the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin). (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank all my colleagues for their great words and condolences and sympathy in honor of those who were killed in Khost. Again, personally, I extend my condolences to the families and friends who are forever impacted by this tragic loss. And to those who are recovering today from injuries they received in this attack, I wish you a full and fast recovery. We, as Members of Congress, recognize that we have a tremendous responsibility to provide our men and women in the intelligence community all the tools that they need to carry out their mission. We are forever grateful. We are blessed to have these men and women serving, protecting our great Nation.

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.