DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program Act of 2019

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill H.R. 2066, the DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program Act of 2019.

Having spent nearly a decade working on intelligence issues for the military and the Intelligence Community, I know first-hand the importance of collaboration between different intelligence offices. Understanding the mission sets and key intelligence questions of partner agencies not only makes the entire Intelligence Community better, but keeps our nation safer. We must do all we can to strengthen participation in programs that seek to encourage this type of cross pollination.

The Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program, or TRAP, was established to provide the Department's intelligence analysts with the opportunity to gain experience in the different mission areas across the DHS intelligence enterprise.

While the establishment of IRAP was an important step for improving intra-agency communication, the program has seen low levels of participation due to the fact that most DHS intelligence offices are unaware of the program's existence, and there are no incentives for analysts to partake.

H.R. 2066 seeks to reverse this trend by authorizing IRAP within the larger ``Homeland Security Rotation Program,'' or HSRP. Operated by the Under Secretary of Management, the HSRP encourages rotations for senior level employees throughout the Department to broaden their knowledge of various component operations.

Establishing a specific intelligence rotation program through this framework will raise the program's profile within the Department and encourage new incentives. Further, by creating a more robust and transparent rotation program, this bill encourages DHS intelligence analysts to gain the skills and competencies that elevate the Department's Intelligence Enterprise above its individual program missions while ensuring the program's existence in the future.

I want to thank Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Rogers for bringing this bill to the Floor, and my colleagues for supporting its passage. I urge the Senate to swiftly adopt this important legislation, and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2066) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program in the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, almost 18 years ago, Americans were horrified by the devastating September 11 attacks. While the perpetrator sought to bring us to our knees, we emerged more determined to protect our Nation.

In the years since the attacks, efforts to improve information sharing, interoperability, and coordination across all levels of government have been redoubled. H.R. 2066, the DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program Act, continues in the same vein by providing DHS employees with the opportunity to complete a rotational assignment within DHS' Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

By establishing this program, officers and analysts across DHS who have a passion for keeping our Nation secure would be provided the opportunity to develop and broaden their intelligence and counterterrorism skills. Organizations with such programs find that they yield benefits far beyond what the individuals who participate learn.

As the threat landscape continues to rapidly change, ensuring that those charged with keeping us safe have ample opportunities to enhance their analytical skills must remain a priority. Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this bipartisan

legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, last year, H.R. 2066 passed the House of Representatives under a suspension of the rules. Authorizing this program will help to improve the effectiveness of DHS' intelligence analysis operations for years to come. As such, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 2066, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2066, the DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program Act of 2019.

I want to commend the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Gallagher) for introducing this legislation.

The goal of H.R. 2066 is to establish a robust rotation program for intelligence analysts across the Department of Homeland Security. As a former intelligence officer, Representative Gallagher certainly understands the value of robust, interagency intelligence cooperation.

This legislation addresses specific shortfalls within the Department of Homeland Security where the different component intelligence offices do not reliably coordinate and analysts from one agency are rarely detailed to another.

This bill was originally introduced last Congress and received overwhelming bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, establishing a rotation program for intelligence analysts from individual DHS component intelligence offices is essential for building a robust DHS intelligence enterprise.

I applaud Congressman Gallagher for his work on this issue, and I want to thank Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Mike Rogers for bringing this bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.