Leonard L. Boswell: “today we will authorize the largest intelligence budget in our history. I am pleased to be part of this authorization…”

“today we will authorize the largest intelligence budget in our history. I am pleased to be part of this authorization, because I believe we have no higher purpose than to support the brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and the civilian intelligence officers of the front lines of our national security. However, I am sad to say this. There is a lingering threat, spoken to by Ms. Harman, that we have not addressed, which we should have. Last night the Rules Committee dealt a blow to our ability to gather intelligence on Iran's nuclear and missile capability by denying an amendment that I had offered. Now, if somebody else would like to offer that amendment, it is okay with me. We have got to do what is right. I would ask you, Mr. Chairman, if you are listening, that you might even think about doing that. But it would require the Director of National Intelligence to provide us quarterly written reports. You know, people do best what we check. And if we were checking this, and they were coming to us in our committee, and it is a classified environment, it is safe, they could come there and we would have a chance to see if they are actually doing the job. We should have done that. So it appears to me, and I am very disappointed to say this, that it appears to me that it was pure politics that my amendment was denied. And I am disappointed.…”