On the recordOctober 23, 2017
I want to share one last thought before closing. In our markup of this bill, the gentleman from California (Mr. Swalwell) had this to say about a recent experience in the Intelligence Committee: ``We had interviewed a witness just 2 weeks ago with respect to our Russia interference investigation. . . . ``After the interview, he gave a public statement . . . and said that he had withheld information from the committee because he was not under subpoena. ``And he also stated that he felt like he had certain privileges to assert that allowed him to withhold this information. ``And so I saw right there . . . that even under a subpoena, individuals believe''--some individuals believe--``that without necessarily having a judicial or legal basis for privilege that they could just assert it. ``And I believe that is because the public is starting to perceive that our subpoena power does not have the weight that it should.'' Wherever the Intelligence Committee's investigation lands, Mr. Speaker, we have a great deal of work to do. Given some of our current challenges, it is more important than ever for the House to conduct substantive oversight of the executive branch. This bill contributes to that effort, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
