On the recordJanuary 20, 2021
I rise to support the nomination of Avril Haines to be the Director of National Intelligence. Ms. Haines is a historic nominee and would be the first woman to lead our intelligence community in this critical role. With a background at the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Council, she understands the work of our intelligence professionals and the need to ensure a frank and nonpartisan process to deliver the information that underpins national security and foreign policy decisions. Ms. Haines has applied her keen intellect to a number of pursuits, even including running a bookstore in Baltimore and serving as a senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. She has a firm commitment to her country and to encouraging others to serve, including as a member of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. After a tumultuous 4 years and a President who routinely scorned the work of our intelligence community, it is critical to restore professional leadership who will work with the administration and Congress, deliver honest assessments, and speak truth to power. Ms. Haines is the right woman for the job.
