John Katko: “Since the tragic events of 9/11, this body has endeavored to better integrate intelligence and law enforcement agencies…”

“Since the tragic events of 9/11, this body has endeavored to better integrate intelligence and law enforcement agencies to react to new and evolving threats and to reduce duplicative efforts and waste. To a large extent, we have succeeded in producing a more integrated security apparatus that properly reflects the terrorist threats of the 21st century. However, we must continue to make improvements to counter fast-changing threats like those posed by ISIS. Mr. Speaker, we are seeing the greatest convergence of radical Islamic threats in history, with more than 40,000 jihadist fighters traveling to the battlefield in Syria and Iraq. Furthermore, the United States faces the highest threat level since 9/11--with open counterterrorism investigations in all 50 States in this great country of ours and with more than 80 ISIS-related arrests in the past 2 years, including one just up the road from my district on New Year's Eve. With the current threat environment in mind, I offer H.R. 4407, the Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act of 2016. Initially established at the end of 2010, this panel brings together the Department of Homeland Security's top counterterrorism decisionmakers to respond to threats. However, I led a bipartisan task force, which found that the Counterterrorism Advisory Board, or CTAB, had neither been codified nor had its charter kept pace with today's evolving terrorist threats.…”