Protecting Our Democracy Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, since its creation in 1921, the Government Accountability Office has had the purview to conduct oversight of all Federal agencies with the goal of reducing waste, fraud, and abuse and holding accountable bad actors.

However, and unfortunately, most of our intelligence agencies today are not fully cooperative with the GAO, pointing to an outdated and vague 1988 Department of Justice opinion.

My amendment would allow the GAO to act as a check on this behavior-- not creating new powers, but restoring the power Congress always intended the GAO to have.

This amendment is welcomed by many in the intelligence community who want to protect their important work and resources from abuse, particularly after the last Presidency we just endured.

This amendment was drafted in partnership with the community, and I am proud to have the support of Representative Adam Schiff, who serves as the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In fact, many of my colleagues have already taken a stand in support of this legislation because, in 2010, the House passed a virtually identical amendment.

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Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Maloney), the chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this amendment and thank the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio- Cortez) for her leadership in offering it. This amendment would clarify the Government Accountability Office's authority to investigate the intelligence community.

As Congress' watchdog, GAO helps to improve Federal Government performance and ensure accountability for the American people. GAO has the tools and expertise to ensure that classified information is treated with appropriate care and confidentiality. They have been doing that for decades.

For example, as part of its audit work, GAO is authorized to examine highly sensitive tax return information. Strict protocols are followed to protect that information while still enabling GAO to carry out its important legislative and oversight responsibilities.

This amendment includes important safeguards to balance the protection of sensitive information with the need for oversight of the intelligence community.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a strong ``yes'' vote on this amendment.
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Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, overall, the Protecting Our Democracy Act will do much to address the weaknesses that were exposed in light of the last administration and exploited during President Trump's Presidency.

I am proud to have four other amendments being included today that address nepotism, codify the Biden ethics pledge, and regulate defense funds as well as inaugural committees. I hope my colleagues will also see the value in protecting our Intelligence Committees from abuse and vote to include this amendment in the POD Act.

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