Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to join the chorus in thanking the staff on both sides of the aisle, and the ranking member and the chairman for their extraordinary work in support of the Intelligence Authorization Act. Indeed, it is something of a model for how we can work on a bipartisan basis.

This year's Intelligence Authorization Act provides funding and oversight to vital collection and analysis programs. It also provides guidance of how best to support and leverage our partners and allies, which is critical in the world of shrinking budgets and ever-increasing threats.

Specifically, I am pleased that the IAA continues to support security services in Ukraine. I have long advocated for U.S. assistance to Ukraine given the strategic relationship and shared value between our two countries.

Russia remains a significant threat to its neighbors and to the U.S. Bolstering our partners in Eastern Europe is one key way to check Russia's increasing adventurism.

Looking ahead, we must stay focused on this threat and continue to focus on our national security programs at home. We cannot simply allow ourselves to get lulled into a false sense of security simply because of lack of information about specific threats against soft targets like stadiums and airports.

Since 9/11, we have made significant and important enhancements to U.S. intelligence capabilities, but that was 15 years ago. We must continuously reassess our risks and take appropriate steps to stop terrorist attacks before they occur.

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