Political Quotes

“oversight is one of the most important responsibilities of this legislative branch. The Constitution requires it. Without oversight, the Members of this body cannot legislate in the best interests of their constituents, nor can they ensure the government is accountable to the taxpayers. In whatever capacity I have served my own fellow citizens of Iowa over the years, I have always strived to faithfully carry out my duty to conduct oversight. The same is true of these last 4 years that I have been honored to serve as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. The agencies under the committee's jurisdiction are some of the most powerful and most consequential in the executive branch. Our Nation's law enforcement agencies have the authority to seek to search and seize our property and review our communications. When warranted, they may bring charges that can result in disgorgement of financial resources or loss of personal liberty. That is because these agencies have the equally weighty responsibility to protect us from criminal and intelligence threats of all stripes. These agencies help protect the taxpayer from fraud, hunt down violent offenders and fugitives, protect our senior leaders and judges, and dismantle illicit networks that traffic in illegal drugs, endangered wildlife, and worst of all, human beings. They safeguard our borders, secure our transportation and cyber networks, and return kidnapped children to their families.…”