Gwen Graham: “I rise today to speak on what I consider to be one of the most important areas of intelligence reform, and then I will…”

“I rise today to speak on what I consider to be one of the most important areas of intelligence reform, and then I will offer an amendment to help advance that position. Over the last several weeks, I have been making a series of statements on various aspects of intelligence reform. In my recent statements, I have discussed the history of the U.S. intelligence community, the community's failure to adapt to changing conditions since the end of the Cold War, the unfortunate reluctance of both the Congress and the administration to tackle these much needed and long-reported necessary reforms, the shape that I believe our reform should take, and the danger that excessive Government secrecy poses to our national security. I have also expressed my gratitude to the independent 9/11 Commission and its predecessors for the work they have done in analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the American intelligence community and offering recommendations as to how these weaknesses can be remedied. Today, I also thank several of my colleagues for the work they have done in providing the groundwork for this legislation and moving it substantially toward fruition.”