Silvestre Reyes

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, El Paso, Texas has a history of producing strong, passionate, and caring educators who motivate and engage our children to become life-long learners. As a parent and grandparent, I am grateful for the contributions of our teachers in the El Paso area, and, in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all the outstanding teachers in our community. In particular, I would like to commend Mrs. Yushica Walker, a teacher at Morehead Middle School in the El Paso Independent School District, for being selected as the 2010 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. The Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor that the State of Texas can award to a teacher. Facilitated by the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Teacher of the Year Program annually recognizes and rewards teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching. Mrs. Walker represents the best of the best in the teaching profession, and we salute her energy, efforts, and dedication. Mrs. Walker is a proud Army spouse. She is the wife of Major Johnnie R. Walker of the TRAC WF (Training and Doctrine Command Analysis Center White Sands Missile Range Forward) office at Fort Bliss, Texas. He is currently stationed in Afghanistan. Mrs. Walker has been teaching for more than 12 years. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with Reading Specialization from Prairie View A&M University, and a Master's degree from the University of Phoenix. She serves as a member of the Campus Improvement Team and as a Master Mentor for new teachers. Her aunt, Willie Mae, who taught for 29 years for the Houston Independent School District, inspired her to become a teacher. Mrs. Walker attributes her teaching success, in part, to a positive attitude and ``demonstrating that teaching is enjoyable.'' Mrs. Walker is part of a larger history of educational excellence in El Paso. I am proud to note that El Paso area educators have been chosen as Texas Teachers of the Year 10 times, with four El Pasoans honored in the last five years. The National Teacher of the Year Program began in 1952 and continues as the oldest, most prestigious national honors program that focuses public attention on excellence in teaching. I am proud of the work of our teachers, and I am committed to ensuring that education remains a top priority for Congress.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Supervisory Special Agent Ernesto ``Tito'' Cruz for his service to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence over the past year. As a detailee from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent Cruz offered his professional expertise to and provided substantial support for a range of in-depth reviews, from those focused on highly sensitive intelligence operations to current practices with the Intelligence Community that implicate legal, policy, or fiscal concerns and investigations. In particular, Special Agent Cruz assisted in the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation's bipartisan examination of circumstances surrounding the Peru Narcotics Airbridge Denial Program, as well as several inquiries regarding contractor practices within the Intelligence Community and allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse. The Committee also benefited greatly from his FBI experience during the interviews conducted in connection with an investigation into congressional notification practices, policies, and procedures. The Intelligence Committee's work involves constant interaction with the 16 elements of the Intelligence Community, particularly through the offices of congressional affairs. Special Agent Cruz's long-term experience across a wide range of intelligence matters and his significant and successful interaction within congressional affairs offices was an asset to the Committee's performance of its oversight duties. The Committee was privileged to have the opportunity to work with Special Agent Cruz. His work ethic, friendly nature, and sense of humor made him a valued member of the Committee team. Thank you, Tito, for all of your hard work, and I wish you all the best as you leave the Hill for FBI's Office of Congressional Affairs.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, today's historic passage of health care reform legislation marks a great victory for the El Paso community. This landmark legislation will significantly improve the quality of life for so many residents by providing access to affordable health care coverage to those who currently have none. It will also provide peace of mind to those families with insurance, who will no longer have to worry about the prospect of financial ruin due to a catastrophic illness or accident. Every day, thousands of families are being forced to forgo health insurance due to rising costs, and now more than 46 million people lack basic health coverage. This disturbing trend is particularly evident in Texas, a state with the highest percentage of children and adults without insurance. More than 6.1 million adults and 1.4 million children are without basic coverage. Sadly, Texas border communities fare even worse, and all of Texas' congressional districts along the border rank among the top 20 districts in the nation with the highest percentage without coverage. In El Paso alone, 230,000--1 in 3--people are without coverage. Unfortunately, when it comes to meeting the health care needs of predominately Hispanic communities along the border, our state has failed. Our Governor would rather waste millions on cameras and helicopters than on health care for border communities that need it most. The health care reform legislation that passed today is expected to provide coverage to 95 percent of Americans, while lowering health care costs over the long term. For the first time in history, insurance companies will be prohibited from denying health coverage due to pre- existing conditions, health status, and gender. This legislation will provide tax credits to help individuals and small businesses purchase private health insurance. It also sets caps on out-of-pocket expenses for the first time ever, so families will never have to experience financial ruin due to a serious illness. Without these reforms, health care costs will continue to consume more of Americans' paychecks in the years ahead. The annual average cost of family coverage more than doubled between 1999 and 2009, from $5,800 to $13,400, and is expected to double again over the next decade without reform. Meanwhile, insurance companies are raising out-of-pocket expenses for families, and covering less in health care costs. America now spends $2.2 trillion on health care annually, more than twice the amount per person than other nations, yet Americans aren't any healthier for it. Without action, health care costs will consume over 20 percent of the American economy in the next decade. This landmark bill will significantly reduce health care costs over the long term and will decrease the federal deficit by $143 billion over the next 10 years and an additional $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction in the following 10 years. Many Americans living in the U.S.-Mexico border region used to depend on Mexico to access cheaper medical care and prescription drugs. For decades, El Pasoans have sought cheaper health care and prescription drugs across the border in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. A recent study concluded that 1 in 3 people traveled to Mexico for prescription drugs, and 7 percent sought health care in Juarez. But the devastating drug- related violence that has ravaged Mexico for two years has prevented many families without insurance from accessing care across the border. While our community is spending a greater share of property taxes to pay for individuals without health coverage, insurance companies have continued to engage in practices that protect their bottom lines. For too long, insurers have been the gatekeepers to our health care system, with the power to dictate who receives health coverage and who does not. Americans with preexisting conditions and serious illnesses are too often denied coverage or are dropped from their existing insurance plans for developing a serious illness or reaching their cap on coverage, and are denied access to the medical care they need. When people lack access to quality affordable preventative care, they end up in our emergency rooms for ailments that could have been treated by a family doctor or seek treatment for conditions that should have been diagnosed earlier. When these patients fail to pay their medical bills from publicly-financed hospitals such as University Medical Center, local property taxes are used to cover these expenses. Since 1998, El Paso property tax payers have spent over $400 million to pay for treatment and services for those patients who could not afford to pay their medical bills. As Congress debated this legislation last summer, I heard from many El Pasoans who shared their struggles under the current broken health insurance system. One of the stories that had the greatest impact on me was that of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Lopez. Their lives were forever changed when their daughter, Danika, was born with a long list of ailments and birth defects that required over 80 days of intensive care treatment. While the Lopez's had insurance through their employer, the co-pay for their daughter's treatment was more than the mortgage on their home. They exceeded their insurer's coverage limits, and were left with no other way to cover their daughter's medical expenses. No other insurance company wanted to insure the Lopez family due to Danika's pre-existing conditions. In desperation, the Lopez's had to quit their jobs to fall into poverty so their daughter could receive the treatment she needed under Medicaid. Last week, Mr. Lopez called my office to tell me that his family was forced into bankruptcy. As a grandfather, I would never want my grandchildren to endure the hardships that Danika and her family have endured. It is for children like Danika, and my grandchildren, Amelia, Mateo, Julian, and Orlando, that I am proud to vote in favor of this bill. Our local community leaders have expressed their support for health insurance reform, and both the City and the County have passed unanimous resolutions in support of reform. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is endorsed by over 325 national organizations and associations, including the AARP, the American Medical Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the Consumers Union, the Catholic Health Association, the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, the American Nurses Association, and many other medical professional organizations. The passage of this landmark legislation by the House of Representatives is an historic achievement and reflects the commitment and determined leadership of President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and the Democratic Congress to follow through on a key promise to help middle class families, who have endured years of rising medical costs. I commend my colleagues for their determination to pass this truly historic legislation that will lower health care costs for all Americans, and strengthen our country's financial future.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today on World Tuberculosis Day in support of local community efforts to raise awareness of tuberculosis, TB. World TB Day commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB. On World TB Day, I encourage citizens to take the opportunity to learn about this disease, which infects one third of the world's population and causes almost two billion deaths worldwide. TB bacteria, which is spread through the air, usually attack the lungs, but can also attack the kidney, spine and brain. If not properly treated, the disease can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there were 12,904 reported cases of TB in the United States in 2008. Although both the number of TB cases reported and the case rate decreased in the United States in 2008, we still must work toward the elimination of TB. Although my district in El Paso has a TB rate that is lower than the average border rate, people in border communities like mine are particularly susceptible to this disease. Community organizations in my district such as the Alliance of Border Collaboratives, the TB Program at the Mexican Consulate in El Paso, the Pan American Health Organization, the University of Texas at El Paso TB Photovoice Project and a number of cross-border partners, work hard every day to eliminate TB. I encourage all Americans to participate in community events that raise awareness of this issue. As awareness of this disease increases, together we can work toward the elimination of the disease.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. I thank the gentleman for yielding time this morning. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1096, which designates March, 2010, as the Census Awareness Month. I want to thank subcommittee Chair Clay and Ranking Member McHenry for their leadership in getting this through committee. I also thank the 59 bipartisan Members who co-sponsored this very important resolution. I introduced this bill to urge communities across the country to raise awareness about the upcoming Census and to encourage individuals to fill out their Census form to ensure an accurate and complete count beginning April 1. Passage of this resolution will help raise awareness of the Census and its significance to communities all across the United States. Although the Census only happens every 10 years, it is extremely important that we get an accurate count because the data derived from the Census affects political representation and directs the allocation of billions of dollars in government funding. Every year, more than $400 billion in Federal funds is awarded to States and communities based on Census data. That is more than $4 trillion over a 10-year period. An accurate Census count is vital to U.S. communities because it helps us to plan for new hospitals, new schools, and new community projects. It is also used to determine which places receive additional social services, including development block grants. Throughout the years, the goal of the census has remained unchanged-- to count every person accurately and to collect information that will help us to better serve the needs of our people. The 2000 census counted more than 281 million people. The census only takes 10 minutes to fill out, and it is strictly confidential. Unfortunately, despite these facts, Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans, and rural Americans are among those groups most likely to be undercounted and to be, thereby, underrepresented. I call on our communities--from churches, schools, nonprofits, big and small businesses, to local, State and tribal governments--to please help us to promote the 2010 Census and to urge everyone to fill out their census forms. Together, we can ensure a complete and accurate count. With that in mind, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in voting in favor of H. Res. 1096.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in support of this rule. It provides us with the opportunity to advance the Intelligence Authorization Act to conference and then to the President. This bill provides essential funding to the intelligence community, improves and updates critical legal authorities, and enhances important oversight authorities that will empower the congressional intelligence committees to carry out their constitutional responsibility to monitor the work of the intelligence agencies. As everybody knows, I take this obligation very seriously. The work of the intelligence community is of critical importance, but by its nature must be done largely behind closed doors. As a result, the intelligence committees exist to ensure that the work of the intelligence agencies is being done in a manner that is effective, that is legal, and that is without waste. H.R. 2701 provides the funding authorities and the guidance necessary to that function. First and foremost, this bill will dramatically improve the process for congressional notification of covert actions. Over the past several years, Democrats and Republicans have both had complaints about the notification process. Provisions in the manager's amendment will require notifications in writing, insist that the President certify the need to restrict briefings to the Gang of Eight, and compel the executive branch to provide the legal authority under which covert action is being conducted. As I have said before, this bill was truly a team effort. We received input and drafting assistance from a variety of Members. The manager's amendment also includes contributions from many of my colleagues. Representative Giffords from Arizona crafted a provision that would require the DNI to report on intelligence cooperation between the Federal Government and State and local law enforcement. Representative Boccieri asked for a report on the dissemination of counterterrorism information from the intelligence community to local law enforcement. Representative Bishop introduced language to require the DNI to submit to Congress a report describing the strategy of the United States in balancing intelligence collection needs with the prosecution of terrorist suspects. Representative Harman, the former ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, submitted an amendment that will require the Inspector General of the intelligence community to report to Congress on the problem of overclassification of intelligence and ways to address that issue and those problems. The manager's amendment also contains language from Representative Hinchey requiring a report on previous intelligence community activities in Argentina, an issue that has long been a concern of Representative Hinchey. Representative Langevin, a leader on the issue of cybersecurity, drafted a provision that requires the President to submit a plan to Congress to secure the networks of the Federal Government. Finally, Representative Markey of Colorado drafted language that will require the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report to the congressional Intelligence Committees assessing the threat posed to allies and interests of the United States in the Persian Gulf by Iran's missile arsenal. Beyond the manager's amendment, the base text of the bill makes several important improvements in oversight of intelligence activities. First, it establishes an Inspector General for the entire intelligence community. This provision will help eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse, and it will also keep a close eye on the protection of the rights of Americans. The bill will also require the DNI to establish a plan to increase diversity within the intelligence community. As is very clear, this is a measure that is important to all our Members, to me personally, and to the committee's vice chairman, Mr. Hastings. For the intelligence agencies, diversity is not just about virtue and equality, though both are important ideals; it is about making sure that we have a clear and complete understanding of the different languages and cultures around the world. In the world of intelligence, diversity translates directly into improved operational capability. Mr. Speaker, as the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, it has been a privilege to work with both sides of the aisle to craft this bill. It is important to keep in mind that all of these issues are vital and important components of making sure we do our work. With that, I urge all my colleagues to support this rule and enact these critical provisions into law.

Mr. REYES. I thank the gentleman for yielding time. You know, facts are pesky things, and sometimes we have to keep reminding those on the other side of the aisle that they are entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts. When the ranking member made reference to the Speaker and her comment about being misled by the CIA, it is important to keep in perspective that we are talking about the last administration, where the policymakers repeatedly misled the Congress. He himself complained bitterly many, many times about those kinds of issues. In fact, one of the amendments, the amendment on the issue of Peru, is a direct result of complaints voiced by the ranking member and others on the committee. He asked a rhetorical question: What will we say to the men and women of the intelligence community? My message has always been consistent: We appreciate their work, we honor their professionalism, we depend on them, and the safety of our country relies on them doing the job that they need to do. It's interesting for me to note that, over the course of the last few months, because of an issue that the minority has with Miranda warnings, they have been repeatedly questioning the proficiency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I have 26\1/2\ years of experience in Federal law enforcement. I've had an opportunity to work with the agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and I know they are the best we have. Do you know why I say that? Because they didn't need to resort to waterboarding. They didn't need to resort to enhanced interrogation techniques. All they did was conduct interrogations professionally and bring all the tools to bear that they have traditionally relied on, and they got information from the individual who tried to take down the airliner on Christmas Day. I know it's a tough contrast, because some would like to take shortcuts. Some would like to subscribe to the last administration's policy of ``anything goes.'' Well, facts and rules are pesky things. I know the Constitution, which they like to quote, is pesky because it provides protection to anyone here in the United States, whether you are here legally, illegally, whether you are in a car, on a plane or in another type of conveyance. The Federal Bureau of Investigation understands that, and that's why, once they determined that there was a violation, they gave the Miranda warnings. The other side would like to mischaracterize that and say, ``We're in favor of the FBI's going around the world, giving the Miranda warnings to those who would seek to harm our country.'' Well, the difference between us and the rest of the world should be that we are a Nation of laws, that we don't seek to take shortcuts, that we don't think it's a good idea to waterboard and to torture and do those kinds of things. That's a basic and fundamental difference in political philosophy, I think, here today. Do you know what? As I go around the world and talk to members of the intelligence community in the CIA, the NSA, the DIA, the FBI, and others, that's what they want to do. They want to be given the tools to carry out their jobs and to do their jobs within the framework that we are so proud of as Americans. That's what we should be doing. That's, more than anything, what this debate is about. Are we going to honor the traditions that our country stands for--the reasons that we are held up as a model around the world--or are we going to subscribe to the policies of the previous administration which say, because people are intent on attacking us, that anything goes, that we throw the rule book out the window, that we throw the Constitution out the door and let people do whatever they want, whenever they want, however they want? That is not who we are. That is not what we should be about. Believe me, the men and women who are charged with keeping us safe want those issues to be clear-cut and understood. I will close by saying it is very telling that, when the last administration made a decision under enhanced interrogation, to waterboard, two things happened. First of all, the CIA did not have that expertise in-house. They had to go to the DOD to get it. Secondly, when the FBI realized that that was part of the interrogation process, they said, you know, that's not what we're about. We can get the job done the right way without resorting to those kinds of techniques, and they returned back to headquarters. So, with that, I hope that we can have a substantive debate on issues that are important to our country, on issues that are relevant and, most importantly, on issues that provide the men and women, the professionals in whatever agency you're talking about, the tools and the direction that we are a Nation of laws. We have to respect our Constitution.

Mr. REYES. If the gentleman would yield, last night, we offered a unanimous consent to withdraw it.

Mr. REYES. The issue, after reflecting on it, was, at least as I understood from the comments that were being made by your side, there were some misimpressions of what, actually, the amendment was intending on doing, so I offered to withdraw that under unanimous consent, and your side decided not to.

Mr. REYES. Well, we can only do so much to make sure that your side understands that the concerns that you were raising were not, in fact, what was meant by the amendment. That's the long and short of it.

Mr. REYES. First of all, in response to my friend from California's comment, I will just give you one example. The issue of waterboarding has been characterized as the equivalent of a training exercise, that the SERE training does it to train our pilots. Don't you think there is a big difference between categorizing it in that way and waterboarding an individual 183 times?

Mr. REYES. Answer the question: Do you think there is a difference between a training exercise that simulates waterboarding?

Mr. REYES. Please.

Mr. REYES. Reclaiming my time, that doesn't deserve a response. What I will say is that the FBI and our interrogators, the professionals that they are, have proven that you can get better information by following the traditional interrogation procedures. You don't have to resort to ``enhanced interrogation techniques.''

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. I object.

Mr. REYES. I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, to me, it seems that the minority would have us fight terrorism with one hand tied behind our back. This motion to recommit would require that before a Miranda warning can be issued, an investigator or a beat cop would have to get permission from a gaggle of Cabinet-level officials in Washington. This is simply absurd. The minority would put FBI agents who arrest potential terrorists in a bitter catch-22. The courts require that Miranda warnings be given in certain circumstances. The minority would have an FBI agent ignore those rules and shut down the possibility of ever building a criminal case, or the agent can stop an interrogation while someone tries to get signatures from half of Washington. The provision doesn't even include authority for these officials to delegate the required certification. This means that if one official happens to be traveling, it's just going to take that much longer for that beat cop or that FBI agent to start gathering evidence. Let's get the facts straight about Miranda. Federal agents are not required to Mirandize terrorism suspects when there is an imminent risk to public safety. They are free to interrogate suspects on concerns about any immediate or ongoing threat to our country. Federal agents questioned the Christmas Day bomber without the Miranda warnings under this very public safety exemption. Federal agents also don't need to give Miranda warnings when an interview is voluntary. The FBI routinely secures intelligence from suspected terrorists without Miranda in this manner. But even when Miranda warnings are given, the record is crystal clear; suspected terrorists do not stop talking. Just this week, in the case of Najibullah Zazi, who pled guilty to charges of attempting to kill innocent civilians on the New York subway, was apprehended by law enforcement, given Miranda warnings, and interrogated thoroughly. In that questioning, Zazi provided valuable information about the plot and now he will be convicted without any fanfare. That is just one example among many. The Christmas Day bomber, the shoe bomber, Richard Reid, and scores of other suspected terrorists provided valuable intelligence after receiving Miranda warnings. But this really, today, isn't about Miranda at all. What the minority really wants to take away is our ability to use the criminal justice system to go after suspected terrorists. I urge my colleagues not to make such an irresponsible and reckless decision. Don't support this motion to recommit. The Federal criminal justice system has proven to be the most reliable and effective means we have for putting terrorists behind bars. Federal prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and judges know better than anybody else how to interrogate, how to try, how to convict, and how to hold terrorists. In the 10 years since 9/11, the Justice Department has successfully convicted more than 300 terrorists in Federal criminal courts. These include hardened members of al Qaeda such as the so-called 20th hijacker, Zacarias Moussaoui. One case in particular on this point, Richard Reid was arrested for attempting to ignite a bomb in his shoe while on a flight to Miami in December of 2001. Reid was advised of his Miranda rights within 5 minutes of being removed from the aircraft and was reminded of these rights four times within 48 hours and now is serving a life sentence in Federal prison. To my knowledge, my Republican friends did not criticize the Bush administration for its handling of that case or any of the other cases that we have on file. This motion to recommit applies to the high-value detainees, so that in the toughest cases, they want us to play by a completely unreasonable set of rules that will slow us down and make us weaker. That is why the Department of Defense opposes this, the Director of National Intelligence opposes this, the Department of Justice opposes this. I think this morning, it's time to say enough with the games. It's time for us to stop playing politics with our national security. It's time for us to create a system that makes those responsible for our safety not play it with one hand tied behind their back. Let's let our law enforcement professionals do their jobs. Above all, let's stop attacking the FBI agents that know what they are doing, know how to do it, and let's vote down this motion to recommit. Vote ``no'' on the motion to recommit. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 2701, to include corrections in spelling, punctuation, section numbering, and cross-referencing, and the insertion of appropriate headings.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Thank you, Madam Chair. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I am proud to rise today in support of H.R. 2701, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. This is an unusual time of the year for us to be considering this legislation. However, it is and remains a very important bill which addresses critical national security issues, and one that we ultimately need to see enacted. As chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, my most important job is to guide the committee in providing appropriate tools, resources, and authorities to aid the dedicated men and women of the intelligence community in keeping our Nation safe. I believe that H.R. 2701 does just that. First and foremost, this bill authorizes the activities and the funds for the 16 agencies of the intelligence community. It is difficult to talk about their roles and their missions in the open, but in some ways it is probably one of the most important things that we do on the Intelligence Committee. In addition to providing authorization for intelligence activities, this bill takes the initial important steps to improve congressional oversight of that intelligence community. I want to highlight two legislative provisions from this year's bill that I believe will significantly improve oversight. When this bill was marked up in committee, we made significant changes to the so-called ``Gang of Eight'' procedures. As Members know, the President has had the statutory authority to limit briefings to the Gang of Eight when they involve sensitive covert actions. It was the sense of the committee that the Gang of Eight statutory authority had been overused, and that, on matters of critical importance, the committee as a whole should have been informed. For that reason, that earlier version of the bill removed the statutory authority for limiting briefings to the Gang of Eight. Last July, the administration issued a statement of policy on H.R. 2701 that included a veto threat with respect to the provisions that would modify the Gang of Eight notification procedures. I believe that some level of concern at that point was justified, and I have been working with the administration over the past several months to resolve those differences. Since July, there have already been noticeable improvements in the way the administration and the intelligence community are communicating and briefing Congress. Accordingly, the manager's amendment I will offer includes a revised provision on Gang of Eight reform. I know that many Members have strong feelings about this issue on both sides of the aisle. The provision that is in the manager's amendment is intended to be a strong and significant step towards better oversight which still respects the constitutional authorities of the President. It recognizes that both elected branches have a role in national security. I fully expect that once we pass this bill we will then revisit this issue during conference between the House and the Senate. And I am happy to work with Members to seek improvements at that time. Through this process, we will be able to find a workable solution to a problem that has persisted over the past several years, if not longer. Another provision that I think is absolutely critical establishes a statutory Inspector General for the intelligence community. This provision will eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, and it will also help keep a close eye on the protection of the rights of Americans. This year's bill is truly a product of many hands. The Inspector General provision, which I just spoke about, in large part is due to the efforts of Ms. Eshoo, the chair of the Intelligence Community Management Subcommittee. The vice chairman of the full committee, Mr. Hastings, has offered an amendment to include critical provisions on our shared interest in promoting diversity as a mission imperative. He has been working at this long and hard for many, many years. Our newest majority member, Mr. Boren, has worked hard to develop a pilot program to improve language capability in African languages. The chairman of the Technical and Tactical Subcommittee, Mr. Ruppersberger, has worked hard on the classified annex to make sure our approach to acquisitions and our most technical programs make good sense. He has been a pivotal part to the committee's oversight process in these very important areas. The bill includes several provisions offered by Ms. Schakowsky, the chairwoman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, which relate to her longstanding interest in appropriately monitoring and managing contractors in the intelligence community. Mr. Holt, the chairman of the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel, advocated for a provision addressing the videotaping of interrogations and another on intelligence information on the health risks faced by Desert Storm veterans. Mr. Thompson of California, another subcommittee chairman, has worked hard on this bill as well. He pushed successfully for the inclusion of a provision to study the benefits paid to the families of the men and women of the intelligence community who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I am proud to support that as well. We also received important input from the committee's minority members. Mr. Kline of Minnesota offered an excellent amendment, which we were pleased to accept, that requires the National Reconnaissance Organization to rewrite its charter to meet its current missions. Mr. Conaway's personal interest in auditable financial statements led to a provision in the bill that requires the intelligence community to focus on its internal financial management and to provide a system that achieves auditability. Madam Chair, I believe that this bill will provide the resources and the tools that the intelligence community needs to do its important work in keeping our Nation safe. That includes collection and analysis of human intelligence, signals intelligence, and geospatial intelligence. It includes funds to detect and disrupt terrorist plots, to provide for intelligence support to the warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan, and also improves the recruitment and training of a diverse and capable workforce. During my time on this committee, I've had the good fortune to be able to travel and to meet the brave men and women of the intelligence community, both uniformed and civilian, and I am continually impressed and in awe of the great work that they do and the great morale that they have. They are dedicated, professional and highly skilled patriots, and I'm proud to offer a bill that supports them and all that they do for our great Nation. This past December, we lost seven of those brave men and women in the attack in Khost, Afghanistan. It is for them, and for those who carry on their mission, that I proudly submit this bill today. Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYES. Madam Chairman, now it's my privilege to yield 3 minutes to my good friend and chairman of the Armed Services Committee, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), who actually has jurisdiction over some of the issues that the ranking member mentioned just a couple of minutes ago.

Mr. REYES. It's now my pleasure to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my good friend and former member of the House Intelligence Committee who still is a valued resource for us, Mr. Boswell from Iowa.

Mr. REYES. Madam Chair, I am happy to oblige my good friend, Mr. Boswell.

Mr. REYES. You are correct, Mr. Boswell.

Mr. REYES. Having had the opportunity to visit Drake University with you, you are correct.

Mr. REYES. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.