Date: 2011-07-25
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

As a member of the Homeland Security Committee. I want to join my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee. on which I also serve. to note the uniqueness of our times. Theres a point that I think is very important about the continuity of existing FBI Director Mueller. and that is that we live not only in dangerous times. but we also live in times where resources are being strained. Questions are being raised about the resources necessary for law enforcement. and certainly a leader who understands the broad needs of the American public and the collaborative needs. collaborating with other law enforcement because of past experiences. is very important. Mr. Mueller. in his 10 years. has had collaborative efforts with all of the Federal law enforcement agencies and has opened up a dialogue between local and State law enforcement agencies. Just ask New York to tell you how important that is. ask Texas or a number of our other large States with assets that are in the eye of the storm of potential terrorist acts. So I join with my colleagues and acknowledge the leadership of the President for asking the FBI Director to stay for 2 extra years and that this does not undermine the 10year term that is by law. I ask colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of S. 1103. a bill to extend the term of the incumbent Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Director Robert Mueller has shown extraordinary leadership. and made fundamental changes to the FBI for the better protection of the American people. Director Mueller has a long and distinguished history of public service. After completing college. he joined the United States Marine Corps. and is a decorated Vietnam veteran. Director Mueller served as the Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorneys office in San Francisco. and prosecuted cases of financial fraud. corruption and terrorism as the Assistant U.S. Attorney in Boston. before being named U.S. Attorney in San Francisco. President Bush nominated Mr. Mueller as the sixth FBI Director on September 4. 2001. just one week prior to the attacks of September 11. Director Mueller has since led the Bureau in modernizing its approach to law enforcement. and developed an intelligence driven organization with a focus on prevention. By centralizing intelligence management. and coordinating intelligence and counterterrorism efforts. Director Mueller has improved the effectiveness of his agency. Over the last ten years. Director Mueller has overseen the transformation of the FBI. from a reactive investigatory agency. to a far more proactive bureau that uses intelligence to seek out threats before they materialize. His visionary leadership has increased collaboration between the FBI and other intelligence gathering agencies. including foreign partners. established partnerships between the bureau. businesses. private industry stakeholders. and the general public. and greatly increased communication between FBI field offices and state and local law enforcement bodies. During his tenure leading the agency. Director Mueller has increased resources to combat the threat of terrorism. without neglecting its other duties. Just last week. the FBI arrested 16 individuals for engaging in cyber attacks. Last Thursday. the FBI. along with the Drug Enforcement Agency. and other Federal law enforcement bodies. arrested over 70 individuals connected with La Familia Michoacana. one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in Mexico. Additionally. in the past week. FBI efforts led to indictments on charges of drug trafficking. international kidnapping and coercion. and human trafficking. Under Director Muellers leadership. the FBI has made unprecedented improvements to face the challenges of hatred and global terrorism. the agency has thwarted a plot to detonate a bomb in the Sears Tower. arrested individuals engaged in a massive recruiting effort to attract young people to jihadist groups. and stopped an attack on Fort Dix. Director Mueller and his agency have achieved these. and a litany of other accomplishments. without asking for applause or recognition. The FBI is Americas primary federal agency responsible for investigating and preventing acts of terrorism. Now. more than ever. when we are faced with aggression from an enemy intent on destroying our way of life. the leader of the FBI must be able to meet the challenges ahead. The future of our nation is not entirely of our choosing. we are faced with an assault on our principles and freedoms we did not seek to galvanize. and a confrontation with intolerance and evil we did not expect. With strategic and forward looking leaders like Director Mueller. we will overcome these challenges. As a senior Member of the Committee on Homeland Security. I agree with the Presidents recommendation that extending Director Muellers term for two additional years will greatly benefit our national security. I am pleased at the bipartisan support that this legislation has received.