Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011

The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 754) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for Intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes:

* Mr. NADLER. Mr. Chair, I rise reluctantly to correct the record.

* Mr. Reed and Mr. Dreier appear to be confused. What they said about my remarks regarding my two amendments to H.R. 754 is false.

* The source of my dissatisfaction was not that the Rules Committee was going to rule one or both of my amendments out of order. I was not frustrated with the Rules Committee for any reason.

* My dissatisfaction stems from the refusal of the House Republican leadership to bring something like Senate Resolution 159 to the House Floor. This bipartisan resolution passed the Senate 97 to 0 and provided recognition for everyone involved in the death of Osama bin Laden. Passing something akin to Senate Resolution 159 in the House would have been the best way to mark this momentous occasion and, as such, I filed the same text as an amendment with the Rules Committee. Unfortunately, this amendment is not germane, a fact Mr. Dreier acknowledges. I withdrew that amendment before consideration by the Rules Committee.

* I also filed a second, narrower amendment with the Rules Committee, based on Senate Resolution 159, that is germane to H.R. 754. That germane version is identical to the amendment offered today by Mr. Reed. As I said earlier on the House Floor, I did not feel that such a narrow amendment adequately honors all of those responsible for eliminating bin Laden. I decided not to pursue my version of this amendment and thus I withdrew it from consideration by the Rules Committee. I never made any comments as to whether the Rules Committee was going to say this narrower amendment was or was not germane or was or was not in order before I withdrew it. I support Mr. Reed's amendment because at least it gives the House some chance to say thank you to our intelligence services.

* Additionally, Mr. Dreier submitted to the Congressional Record the letter I filed with the Rules Committee asking that both of my amendments be withdrawn. However, for some reason only part of my letter was incorporated. I am including with my remarks the complete text of the letter I filed with the Rules Committee.

Congress of the United States,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, May 11, 2011.

Hon. DAVID DREIER,

Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Rules,

Washington, DC.

Hon. LOUISE M. SLAUGHTER,

Ranking Member, House of Representatives, Committee on Rules,

Washington, DC.

* DEAR CHAIRMAN DREIER AND RANKING MEMBER SLAUGHTER: Yesterday I submitted two amendments to H.R. 754, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. I am writing to withdraw from consideration both amendments, Nadler-Bishop-Slaughter-Owens Amendment No. 2, NADLER

* Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jerrold Nadler,

Member of Congress.

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