On the recordDecember 31, 2012
Today, I voted against the Fiscal Year 2013 Intelligence Authorization Act. Despite keeping funding levels flat and capping personnel levels to that of Fiscal Year 2012, this authorization is not significantly different than the earlier version I voted against in May. It is another missed opportunity to make significant, smart reductions in our intelligence infrastructure, at a time when we're asking so many others to make significant budgetary sacrifices in the midst of austerity. This legislation continues to spend way too much money--$72 to $78 billion a year--with little transparency or efforts to reduce the sprawling intelligence community and protect privacy rights. It's of paramount importance to keep our country safe, and that's exactly what our intelligence community has done, but we cannot afford to spend as much on intelligence as Russia does on its entire military budget or employ hundreds of thousands of people with secret clearance. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 3454. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
