Eric Swalwell: “I stand here today in support of this bipartisan IAA and the many provisions that it has that will continue to…”

“I stand here today in support of this bipartisan IAA and the many provisions that it has that will continue to strengthen and empower our intelligence community and those who serve and toil away for our national security. This bill also contains a few provisions I have personally championed during my time on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. First, it includes the provision I added requiring a report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on programs across the IC, the intelligence community, to help students manage student loan debt and the viability of an IC-wide program, knowing that this is critical for our recruitment and retention of quality intelligence community members. Second, the bill includes a provision that was originally a bipartisan, standalone bill with Representative LoBiondo of New Jersey to track foreign fighters as they attempt to move to and from terrorist safe havens abroad. This bill passed the House at the end of last year by a vote of 423-0. Finally, it includes a requirement for a report on the current utilization of our national laboratories by the intelligence divisions within the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy, as well as ways these divisions can expand utilization of lab expertise on cybersecurity. I am honored to represent two of these laboratories, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia, and I have seen firsthand how important their work is to our national security.…”