C. Ruppersberger

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chairman, can I ask how much time each side has remaining?

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time, also.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I'm proud that the bill under consideration has an emphasis on supporting counterintelligence resources. Last year, the chairman and I made it a priority to review the community's counterintelligence posture after learning more about the aggressive ways foreign intelligence and security services continue to steal U.S. secrets, including trade secrets, from U.S. companies. One of the most disturbing reports came from the National Counterintelligence Executive which said that Russia and China are both aggressively utilizing cyberspace to steal U.S. economic secrets. This informative unclassified report is available on the Director of National Intelligence Web site. I encourage every U.S. business to read it to understand the threat they face today. The hard work and money it takes to innovate and conduct research are all at risk. What China, Russia, and any other country who engage in espionage realize is that it's faster and cheaper to steal U.S. creativity than to develop it themselves. The report also gives examples of the millions of dollars that are at stake, like a single proprietary paint formula from Valspar valued at $20 million. These are some economic impacts of espionage, but they are also the cost to our national security and those of our allies. A spy within our intelligence community, with access to our most sensitive secrets, can mean the lives of our sources and our troops. In these cases, it is impossible to calculate the impact. Espionage is countered by the villages of our counterintelligence professionals. These are the people we depend upon to discover the spies within our midst. I'm proud that this bill adds the resources and personnel for this critical mission. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. For the third time in 3 years, Chairman Rogers and I have stood on the floor of the House encouraging our colleagues to support our intelligence budget bill. We both rise in support of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. I would like to thank Chairman Rogers for his bipartisan leadership on this bill. The bill gives our intelligence professionals the resources, capabilities, and authorities they need to protect American and American interests. We crafted a bill that addresses our core needs, including space, cybersecurity, counterintelligence, and counterterrorism, while also keeping an eye on the bottom line. This bill is about 4 percent below last year's budget and holds personnel at last year's levels. The Intelligence Committee came together as Democrats and Republicans to do what is right for our country and for the intelligence community. The bill unanimously passed out of our committee by a margin of 19 0. I would also like to thank the staff of the Intelligence Committee for their hard work on this bill. You're only as good as your team and your staff. I urge my colleagues to support the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2013. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I rise in opposition to the amendment, but I do support the amendment.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment, though I do not oppose it.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. First, I support this amendment as a continuation of the work that we have begun in Congress as an attempt to focus our intelligence community and the executive Agencies to this important threat that my friend and colleague has made.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, this week, the House of Representatives is expected to take up a bill reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a traditionally noncontroversial bill that improves the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women. The bill works: We've seen a 60 percent decrease in domestic violence since the bill first passed in 1994. The Senate recently passed its version of this bill in an overwhelming, bipartisan vote. Unfortunately, the partisan House version rolls back some of its most critical components, limiting protections for certain classes of women. In fact, women's advocacy groups like the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence say this bill would discourage victims of these heinous crimes from going to the police for help and actually increase abusers' power. I can't support this bill for a number of reasons, but chief among them are its failure to include provisions to help reduce violence against young women on college campuses. This issue, in particular, resonates as we mark the second anniversary of the tragic death of Yeardley Love, a Baltimore native and student athlete at the University of Virginia who was beaten by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Yeardley's mother, Sharon Love, recently visited Washington to encourage lawmakers to swiftly pass the VAWA reauthorization approved by the Senate. That bill requires colleges to provide clear protocols and disciplinary policies for reports of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. It also requires colleges to help victims report the incident to law enforcement and seek a protective order if they choose to do so, as well as provide victims with options to change academic, living and transportation arrangements. Finally, it provides prevention programs for students who could be abusers, victims and bystanders. It is shameful that the architects of the House bill have opted to remove these critical components. I am urging House leadership to bring the Senate version to a vote so we can provide real protection to women of all ages and races.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Mr. Joseph Falbo, who was recently named the ``2012 Dundalk Citizen of the Year'' by the Optimist Club of Dundalk. Mr. Falbo was chosen to receive this prestigious award for his remarkable efforts to improve the quality of life in his community. Mr. Falbo has volunteered with the Dundalk Heritage Association since 1980, when he answered an ad in the Dundalk Eagle seeking volunteers to help erect a fence for Dundalk's signature event, the Heritage Fair. Working his way through the ranks, Mr. Falbo stepped up to serve as the organization's president in 2007 when its then-president fell ill. From booking bands to ensuring the event runs on schedule, the fair requires year-round planning. Though unprepared and inexperienced, Mr. Falbo's first fair at the helm went off without a hitch. The event has grown since, with last year's shattering attendance records. He continues to make improvements to each year's fair. addition to being named the ``Citizen of the Year,'' Mr. Falbo recently received a ``Milestone Award'' from the Dundalk Renaissance Corp., which honors residents who help revitalize the community. The organization said Mr. Falbo's ``leadership and heavylifting'' ensure the annual fairs ``grow and evolve with our community.'' Despite his many awards and acclamations, Mr. Falbo remains humble and appreciative. When told he was receiving his most recent award, Mr. Falbo said he couldn't accept it unless his whole organization was also recognized. Mr. Falbo also spent years coaching tee ball, baseball, and soccer teams for the Dundalk-Eastfield Recreational Council. Furthermore, Mr. Falbo helps with the group's annual Dundalk Christmas Parade. In addition to his volunteer efforts, Mr. Falbo is a fixture in Dundalk's business community, having owned and operated his auto-repair shop since he took it over from his father in the 1990s. He is a graduate of Dundalk High School. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Mr. Joseph Falbo. His genuine love for his community and neighbors are an inspiration to us all, and are deserving of the utmost gratitude. It is with great pride that I congratulate Mr. Falbo on his exemplary contributions to the Dundalk community.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis, president of the Community College of Baltimore County, who was recently named the 2012 ``Humanitarian of the Year'' by the Optimist Club of Dundalk. This prestigious honor is reserved for individuals who serve the Dundalk-Edgemere community. As president of the Community College of Baltimore County for the past seven years, Dr. Kurtinitis leads the largest provider of higher education in the Baltimore region and is credited with establishing a leaner executive structure that prioritizes the classroom. Throughout her tenure at the Community College of Baltimore County, Dr. Kurtinitis has gone above and beyond the call of duty to reconnect the once fledgling Dundalk campus with the community. As a result of Dr. Kurtinitis' efforts, enrollment at the Dundalk campus is thriving, having doubled from 2,500 students in 2005 to 5,000 students today. Shortly after her arrival, Dr. Kurtinitis worked to place several of the college's signature programs on the Dundalk Campus in order to attract new students. Under her direction, the school constructed a new building to house a new program for dental hygienists and dental assistants. In an effort to integrate the school with the surrounding community, the facility is open to the public and will offer low-cost preventive dental work to more than 2,000 residents each year. In addition, Dr. Kurtinitis has overseen a $6 million renovation of the campus cafeteria and library. She also boosted the college's presence at community meetings and events, working closely with the Dundalk Renaissance Corporation and the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce. The college has begun entering a float in the annual Dundalk Independence Day parade, winning awards for the past three consecutive years. A self-described ``servant leader,'' Dr. Kurtinitis is an experienced and respected educator, administrator and author. Before returning to Maryland, she served as president of Quinsigamond Community College in Massachusetts and, prior, taught English at Prince George's Community College for 22 years. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis. Her dedication to quality education for all students is an inspiration. It is with great admiration and appreciation that I congratulate Dr. Kurtinitis on her well-deserved recognition and wish her many more years of success.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 199, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I yield the gentleman an additional 10 seconds.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First of all, I do want to thank the chairman for working with us in a bipartisan way to protect our country from this very serious threat of cyberattacks. As the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, people often ask me what keeps me up at night. I tell them: weapons of mass destruction entering the country undetected and also a catastrophic cyberattack shutting down our water supply, power grid or banking systems; and those are just a few of the many areas that could be attacked and shut down. Every day, U.S. Web sites and our Nation's networks are threatened by foreign governments like China, Iran, Russia, and other groups trying to steal our money and valuable trade secrets. According to the National Counterterrorism Executive, the number one thing cyberthieves are trying to steal is information and communication technology, which form the backbone of nearly every other technology. In fact, according to the United States Cyber Command, $300 billion worth of trade secrets are stolen every year. This proves we need to make real changes to how we protect our cybersystems. The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act helps the private sector protect itself and its clients from these attackers and data thieves. The intelligence community has the ability to detect these cyberthreats, these malicious codes and viruses, before they are able to attack our networks; but right now, Federal law prohibits the intelligence community from sharing the classified cyberthreat with the companies that will protect us, that control the network--the AT&Ts, the Verizons, the Comcasts, those groups. We have the ability to give them the information to protect us; yet we have to pass a law to do that, and that's why we are here today. The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act will clearly do that if we pass the bill. It allows the intelligence community to share the codes and signatures associated with malware and viruses and the means to counter the bad stuff with the companies. These companies keep a lookout for these viruses and work to stop them before they are able to attack their system. Companies then voluntarily give information about the cyberattack back to the government, machine code consisting of strings of zeroes and ones that uniquely identifies the malware. Cyberanalysts will use this information to better understand the attack and try to figure out who launched it and where it came from. This information will be used to protect against similar attacks in the future. Now, the Democrats worked hard to protect privacy and civil liberties in this bill throughout the entire process. We fought for additional privacy protections in the original bill that was marked up in committee. In the version we will vote on tomorrow morning, additional changes are also included in the amendments. Privacy and civil liberty groups and the White House all agree we made important positive changes that went a long way to improve the initial bill that came out of committee. We severely limit what information can be shared with the government and how it can be used. It is also important to note the entire process is completely voluntary and provides industry the flexibility they need to deal with business realities. The bill also requires an annual report from the inspector general of the intelligence community to ensure none of the information provided to the government is mishandled or is misused. This is a very important privacy issue. The review will include annual recommendations to improve the protection of privacy and civil liberties. That review will be done again by the inspector general. We also made it clear this legislation grants no new authority to the Department of Defense, the National Security Agency, or the intelligence community. At the urging of the White House and others, we included the Department of Homeland Security in the process so that there is not even a perception that our intelligence agencies or military will be in control of this. The Homeland Security Department will be coordinating as a civil body. In addition, companies that act in good faith to protect systems and networks can receive liability protection. This is what our bill does. Now, what does it not do? The bill does not allow the government to order companies to turn over private email or other personal information. This is not surveillance. The bill does not allow the government to monitor private networks, read private email, censor, or shut down any Web site. We have a broad coalition of support with 100 cosponsors, close to 30 companies and industry groups, and dozens of trade organizations like Facebook, Microsoft, IBM, a lot of different groups that are supporting this bill. This is not a perfect bill, but the threat is great. I believe this legislation is critical for our national security and yet deals with the issue of privacy. We can do better in privacy, and we hope to get the bill to the Senate, where there will be a lot more negotiation. Congress must act now, and I encourage my colleagues to vote for this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague from the State of Utah (Mr. Boswell) who formerly served on the Intelligence Committee.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague from the State of New Jersey, Mr. Rush Holt, who was formally on the Intelligence Committee.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague from the State of California, Mr. Adam Schiff, who is also the ranking member on the Technical and Tactical Intelligence Committee.

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

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague from the State of Mississippi, Mr. Bennie Thompson, who is also the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague and friend from the State of Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), who is also a member of our Intelligence Committee and has worked very hard with the chairman and myself on the issue of cybersecurity. I consider him one of our experts on the Hill in the area of cybersecurity. (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I yield the gentleman from Rhode Island 30 additional seconds.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague from the State of Georgia (Mr. Johnson).

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, this week, we joined people in the State of Israel and her many friends around the world in celebrating Yom Ha'atzmaut--the independence from British mandatory rule and the establishment of the State of Israel. The United States and Israel have shared a special bond since the establishment of the Jewish State in 1948. The United States, under the leadership of then-President Truman, was the first country to recognize Israel, only 11 minutes after its founding. Today, the United States and Israel continue to share a commitment to democracy, the rule of law, the freedoms of religion and speech, as well as respect for human rights. The United States and Israel also share a desire for peace and stability. Our countries cooperate closely on intelligence issues, partnering on the development of new technology to promote the security and safety of our citizens. Bilateral ties in trade were codified in the 1985 U.S- Israel Free Trade Agreement. Today, the American and Israeli governments and businesses are working together to develop and promote new energy solutions. The Jewish people paid a heavy price for security and independence. Nearly 23,000 men and women have been killed defending Israel since the first Jewish settlers left the secure walls of Jerusalem in 1860. Since the end of the War of Independence, nearly 2,500 people have been killed by terror attacks in Israel, including 14 in the past year. Today, despite disturbing political instability in the region, Israel stands strong. She is among the safest countries in the world, her economy is sound, life expectancy there is among the highest in the world, and more Israelis earn advanced degrees than most other nations. And, at a time when our own country is challenged by polarizing politics, an astounding 88 percent of Israelis say they are proud to be Israeli. I want to extend my best wishes to the people of Israel as we celebrate Israel's extraordinary friendship and honor her achievements over the past 64 years.