Intelligence Bill Passes, Strengthening National Security and Intel Gathering Capacity

Building on Democrats’ national security successes, today the House passed the Intelligence Authorization Bill, introduced by Silvestre Reyes (TX-16). The bill will strengthen our national security capacity by increasing funding for U.S. intelligence agencies. It increases funding for critical language programs, such as those that have assisted our intelligence gathering in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and boosts programs to protect our cyber-security. 

Democrats in Congress and President Obama have had major successes in the fight against terrorism. With the aid of U.S. intelligence offices, over the past few weeks Pakistan’s armed forced captured key Taliban militants allied with al Quaeda. Just last week, Najibullah Zazi, who attempted to set off explosives in the New York City subway, pled guilty in a civilian court and is cooperating with the military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies. And the Christmas Day Bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, is already providing useful intelligence in the fight against Al Qaeda.

With this bill, Democrats are responding forcefully against the threats facing our country and are working tirelessly to protect the American people and the American way of life.