Joe Crowley: “I thank my gentle friend and colleague from California for yielding me this time. I rise in strong support of the…”

“I thank my gentle friend and colleague from California for yielding me this time. I rise in strong support of the national intelligence bill. I want to thank the committee for its great work. I especially want to focus my praise on the gentlewoman from California (Ranking Member Harman) for her great work in leading on this issue. It was Democrats, led by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), that pushed the 9/11 Commission to be started last year, as the Republicans and the White House blocked their work and opposed their mission. I believe the Republicans fear the truth that may come from that Commission. Later, when the 9/11 Commission issued its recommendations and the Speaker said he would not implement any legislative changes without a majority of the majority, it was again Democrats and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman) who led the fight for a real intelligence shakeup and for the creation of a director of National Intelligence. {time} 1530 Democrats fixed those problems and fought back changes this year to bring us back to the bad old days of intelligence turf wars. This bill reflects the new world we live in, a dangerous world that has gotten more dangerous since September 11; and we need to be involved, and more heavily involved, to protect all Americans, no matter where they are on this planet and the bill does that.…”