Richard Burr: “I rise today--and it was my intent to ask unanimous consent with my colleague, the vice chairman of the Intelligence…”

“I rise today--and it was my intent to ask unanimous consent with my colleague, the vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee--for the Senate to confirm Bill Evanina as Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center. Bill has served our Nation for over 23 years, including service as a supervisory special agent and assistant section chief with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Prior to joining the NCSC, Bill served as the chief of counterespionage at the CIA. Bill has served honorably as the Director of the NSC since June of 2014, before the position required Senate confirmation, necessitating a vote by the U.S. Senate. Here is a guy who has served for 3\1/2\ years, and we changed the statute and said that this is a position that the Senate needs to confirm in the future, and, all of a sudden, the same guy who has been there is now being held up. Intelligence threats facing our Nation are numerous. They are growing, and they are significant. Bill is experienced, professional, and understands the threats through real world experience. We need a Director who can ably lead our Nation's counterintelligence security activities during a period of unprecedented threats. We need someone who can actively and effectively engage and educate the private sector on the threats--something Bill has done time and again. Director Evanina was unanimously approved by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in May, and it is time this body moved forward.…”