Political Quotes

“I will take a few minutes to comment on Representative Porter Goss' nomination to the post of Director of the CIA, as well as to comment on the real progress the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee is making as we address the issues of the 9/11 recommendations. With regard to the former, I congratulate the Senate Intelligence Committee. One of the reasons I do not think there will be as much debate on the floor today is that they very thoroughly addressed the nomination with very good debate in committee and reported him out of that committee with an overwhelmingly positive vote. Mr. Goss is a highly capable manager and leader, with a strong background and extensive experience in intelligence matters. As we all know, he served in the Congress representing the people of southwest Florida for the past 15 years. He has a long history of public service, which I am sure will be outlined on the floor later. He served as mayor of Sanibel Island. In 1983, he was appointed to the Lee County Board of Commissioners by then Governor Bob Graham. Porter Goss has a long career that has, of course, extended these last 15 years as a House Member where he held the chairmanship of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. As chairman, he led one of the key investigations into possible intelligence failures regarding 9/11. He was thorough. He demonstrated a thoughtful and fair approach in these hearings and investigations.”