On the recordMay 12, 2011
I thank the chairman and ranking member for their leadership. I rise today, Mr. Chairman, in support of the fiscal year 2011 Intelligence authorization legislation. On September 11, 2001, our Nation faced the deadliest act of terror in U.S. history. On the evening of May 1, 2011, the mastermind of those attacks, Osama bin Laden, was brought to justice and killed while hiding in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Along with the sacrifices our Nation's troops have made over the past 10 years, our intelligence community has played an integral role in fighting the war on terror and keeping America safe. The behind-the- scenes work of the intelligence community leading up to the attack and the raid in Abbottabad was critical to the success of the mission and will continue to be a crucial asset to winning the war on terror. Completing the Intelligence authorization bill is critical to ensuring that our Nation's intelligence agencies have the tools they need to remain at the forefront of global and national security. This bill provides vital congressional oversight and policy guidance to the intelligence community on behalf of the American people. Congress must ensure these agencies are acting in our best interest and spending taxpayer dollars wisely. As a member of the House Intelligence Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
