Floor Statements

I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment does one simple thing: it stops TSA from continuing to waste taxpayer dollars on a program the agency has not scientifically validated or shown to be cost effective.

Since 2007, TSA has spent approximately $1 billion on its behavioral detection program, the screening of passengers by observation techniques, commonly referred to as the SPOT program.

Under this program, on an annual basis, TSA spends about $200 million to deploy 2,800 behavior detection officers, or BDOs, at airports around the country to observe passenger behaviors for signs that they present a terrorism risk to aviation. While the goal of this

program--preventing terrorists from boarding flights--is laudable, the program is, by any measure, fatally flawed.

Chief among those flaws is that TSA has not scientifically validated that BDOs can identify terrorists by observing behaviors. Indeed, the Government Accountability Office has found that ``known or suspected terrorists'' have moved through screening on 23 different occasions in airports where BDOs were deployed. In fact, BDOs have never identified, apprehended, referred to law enforcement, or prevented a terrorist from boarding an aircraft. This is not surprising considering that there is no scientific basis for suggesting that they should or would be able to do so.

As if it were not bad enough that TSA has spent almost $1 billion on a program without scientific validation, yesterday The New York Times reported that the DHS inspector general has found that TSA cannot ensure passengers at U.S. airports are screened objectively under the SPOT program, show that the program is cost effective, or reasonably justify the program's expansion.

Indeed, the IG found that the program does not have a strategic plan, a financial plan, or even a comprehensive and uniform training program. In light of the sequester and the resulting budget cuts, I, for one, see no justification for spending another dollar on a program that is wasteful and ineffective.

Mr. Chair, the time has come to stop TSA from squandering additional funds on this misguided effort. I was surprised in these austere times the Appropriations Committee provided funding for the program, especially when, in the report accompanying H.R. 2217, the committee questioned the fundamentals for the program when it said that there are outstanding questions remaining over the value of the program.

We have an opportunity today to ensure we fund programs that are merit-worthy and effective, not programs whose value and effectiveness have not been established. Further, we have the opportunity to ensure that $200 million saved by defunding this program is put to far better uses, such as expanding TSA's Pre Check program so more individuals can receive expedited screening, reducing wait times at screening checkpoints, and bolstering surface transportation security.

Earlier today, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee stated that we cannot afford to fund unproven and wasteful programs. I cannot agree more. That is why I am offering this amendment to cut off funding for TSA's unproven and wasteful SPOT program.

With that, Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Mr. Charles Moore. Mr. Moore passed away March 14, 2006 and was married to the former Alfolonia Matthews, the father of 5 children, and grandfather of 3.

Mr. Moore was a native Greenvillian. His entire life has been lived in Greenville except for a brief period when he served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. After coming home and completing his high school requirements, he realized he had to make a decision. Either he would leave Greenville or stay and make it a better place for all to live. He chose the latter.

His goals and aspirations were achieved by the following: getting involved in voter registration in the 1950's; getting involved with the inception of Delta Ministry in Greenville, in 1966; helping organize the effort to bring Headstart to his community in 1966; helping organize the effort to integrate Greenville Public Schools in 1968; spearheading the organization of Herbert Lee Center where civil rights meetings were held, which still exists; coordinating several Washington County campaigns; recipient of the Harriet Tubman Award, from the Magnolia Bar Association in 1966; and, recipient of the Point of Pride Award March in 1966.

Mr. Moore was a member of the Church of Christ Holiness, past Commander and lifetime member of Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW), past president of the Greenville Travel Club, retired member of the National Association of Letter Carrier Union (NALC) and the past President of Branch 516 of the NALC. He was also a member of the Secretary of State Dick Molpus Task Force. He filed a discrimination complaint that resulted in Blacks being promoted to managerial positions in the United States Post Office. He was a member of the NAACP since 1946 until his death. He was elected to the City Council, Ward 4 in July 1990 and re- elected for a 4 year term in October 1993. Also, he held the position of vice-mayor of the City of Greenville.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Charles Moore for his dedication to serving others and giving back to the African American community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Mrs. Sarah H. Johnson.

Mrs. Johnson was born on March 10, 1938 in Charleston, South Carolina, to Louisa Hutchinson. She grew up in Anniston, Alabama, and attended the public schools of that city. Upon graduation from Cobb Avenue High School as valedictorian of her class, she attended Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia, for one year, at the end of which she married a ministerial student, Ned Howard Johnson. To this marriage were born four children: Geneva Louise Johnson, Ned Howard Johnson, Jr., Yvonne Elizabeth Johnson and Karen Yvette Johnson. The Johnson family moved to Greenville, Mississippi, in 1964. After she and Mr. Johnson divorced in 1967, Mrs. Johnson married Cornelius Carter on December 24, 1977, but continues to use Sarah H. Johnson as her professional name.

Mrs. Johnson is a black woman who has been active on behalf of her race and her community. She has achieved much and received numerous honors in her lifetime, foremost of which is the fact that after two successful political campaigns in 1973, she was elected the first black member of the Greenville, Mississippi, City Council.

Mrs. Johnson has held several administrative positions in local government and has been active in local and national politics. She was employed by Mississippi Action for Community Education and was area director for People's Educational Program, a county-wide Headstart program. She is a former member and vice-chairperson of the Mississippi Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights and a former member of the Continuing Committee of the International Women's Year. She served as a 1972 Fellow of the Mississippi Institute of Politics and during the Carter Administration attended affairs by invitation at the White House several times. In 1979, she ran as a part of a slate for the Public Service Commission in the Central District of Mississippi.

Aside from her interest in politics and civic affairs, Mrs. Johnson has been active in several other spheres of life. In 1974, she earned a radio licensing diploma from Elkins Institute in Memphis, Tennessee. That same year she took three Federal Communications Commission examinations and received her first-class radio operator's license. She has also graduated from the Mississippi Realtor's Institute and is currently in the process of taking exams to acquire a real-estate broker's license from the Mississippi Real Estate Commission. She is a member of Revels Memorial United Methodist Church and a former member of the Board of Church and Society, a national board of the United Methodist Church.

Among her numerous citations and awards, Mrs. Johnson was presented the Woman of the Year Award by the Utility Club at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on June 8, 1975. Her biography appears in Who's Who Among Black Americans; and she is listed in the National Roster of Black Elected Officials, Mississippi's Black Women, and the History of Blacks in Greenville, Mississippi, from 1868 to 1975. She also has a street honoring her name, Sarah Johnson, in Greenville, Mississippi.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Sarah H. Johnson for her dedication to serving others and giving back to the African American community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Celaine Gordon Coleman, who is a remarkable public servant.

Mrs. Celaine Gordon Coleman who is 95 years old was born June 29, 1917 in the Lebanon Community of Holmes County, says it seems that ``folks have forgotten about what we went through to make things better for these children today. The children need to know their history. Folks don't talk about it much anymore.''

The daughter of the late Eddie and Celaine Gordon, Mrs. Coleman did whatever she could to help move the civil rights movement in Holmes County. ``I used to cook for them,'' she said. She was also one of the early pioneers of the Head Start Program as it came to the hills of Holmes County. She served as a cook for years at the Mt. Olive Head Start Program.

Mrs. Coleman also served the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church as Sunday School Secretary for 50-plus years. The church is one of the oldest black churches in Holmes County and it was once a very prominent church school for blacks. Although her health will not permit her to attend now, she once had perfect church attendance.

Mrs. Coleman would walk for miles sometimes just to attend church. On muddy days she would carry her good shoes in her hand and put them on once she got to the church, and she would be on time as well. Through her hard-working spirit, she was also instrumental in positively impacting the lives of many black children in Holmes County. She is the widow of the late Mr. Monroe Coleman and the mother of three adult children.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Celaine Gordon Coleman for her dedication to serving others and giving back to the African American community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable woman who was a champion against human oppression, discrimination, and injustice in Mississippi, Mrs. Birdia Beatrice Clark Keglar. Mrs. Keglar and her family lived in Charleston, MS located in Tallahatchie County, which is one of many counties in the state known by the name ``Free State of . . .''

That caliber of courage and stance warrants recognition. Mrs. Keglar was a tiny woman in stature, standing about 4 feet 9 inches and her biggest fear wasn't her height or those she stood up against but rather the negative impact of injustice on African-Americans and society if nothing was done to change things.

The constant threats on her life and acts of violence didn't stop her either.

Mrs. Keglar's fight for equality and empowerment has a place of longevity in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. The Fox Funeral Home where Mrs. Keglar worked until her death became the location where many of her plans would evolve and manifest. Her journey included but is not limited to:

A march with Dr. Martin Luther King from Selma to Montgomery Alabama for the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and

The organizing of the first local chapter of the NAACP in Tallahatchie County; and

Leading the fight which helped her son, James, become one of the first Black bus drivers in the county; and

When citizens living in the community needed a place to host Sunday school classes, Mrs. Keglar allowed them to be held in her local store; and

The establishing of the first African-American Business and Professional Women's Club in the county; and

When the need came, she crossed county lines helping to lend a hand to secure housing for elderly citizens living in Grenada, Mississippi; and

On January 11, 1966 Mrs. Keglar and Ms. Adlena Hamlett were killed as they traveled back from Jackson, Mississippi after testifying before a Joint Committee chaired by Senator Robert Kennedy. Mrs. Keglar's testimony was about voting discrimination in the State of Mississippi against African-Americans.

It saddens me to report Mr. Speaker that the untimely death of Mrs. Birdia Beatrice Clark Keglar and Ms. Adlena Hamlett are among those unsolved murder cases from the 1960s civil rights era.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Birdia Beatrice Clark Keglar for her dedication to fighting oppression, discrimination, and injustice in Mississippi.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a hometown Civil Rights era activist, Mrs. Gertrude Grenada. Mrs. Grenada has shown what can be done through hard work, setting goals, and aiming high.

Mrs. Gertrude Grenada was born March 16, 1933 in Hinds County, MS. Growing up in Bolton, Mississippi, Mrs. Grenada witnessed and experienced a multitude of injustices during an era of legal segregation and Jim Crow. Although at times frightened by intimidation tactics used against her family and others in her community, Mrs. Grenada maintained a resilient and determined spirit to make strides toward ending laws targeting the civil rights and liberties of African Americans.

She received her formal education at the Southern Christian Institute (SCI), located in Edwards, Mississippi. After graduating from SCI, she attended Jackson State University and received a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. For many years, she played an instrumental part in educating preschool children through the Hinds County HeadStart Program.

In addition to her commitment to education, Mrs. Grenada was very active in local strategizing and planning meetings with Freedom Riders and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Because of her determination to invoke positive change during the Civil Rights Movement, Mrs. Grenada also participated in a number of marches, most notably alongside other well-known Civil Rights pioneers, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Medgar Evers. In 1972, Mrs. Grenada volunteered her time to assist in the election of her hometown's first African American mayor. Her lifelong efforts toward establishing change in her community will be felt for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Gertrude Grenada for her astounding resolve to actively contribute to the cause during the Civil Rights Era in her community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Walter Bruce, Jr., who is a remarkable public servant.

Mr. Walter Bruce, Jr., an 84-year-old native of Durant, Miss., was born May 30, 1928. He is the son of the late Mr. Walter Bruce, Sr. and the late Mrs. Georgia Bruce. He had seven sisters and six brothers and a loving wife, Louise, who are all deceased.

Mr. Bruce, Jr. was educated in Holmes County and grew up in the country where his parents were small farmers. Historically, he is mostly known for his dedicated work to the civil rights movement in Holmes County. He started the county's Freedom Democratic Party (HFDO). The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party was an American political party created in Mississippi in 1964, during the Civil Rights Movement. It was organized by black and white Mississippians with assistance from the student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) to challenge the legitimacy of the white-only U.S. Democratic Party.

Mr. Bruce participated in marches and boycotts in Holmes County and in Jackson, Miss.. He and others worked with nationally noted activist Fannie Lou Hamer of the Mississippi Delta. He was extremely instrumental in bringing about emergence of black elected officials in Holmes County as well as black police officers.

Prior to his work in the civil rights movement, Mr. Bruce organized an all-black Little League Baseball Team which he headed for 16 years. He is also founder of the legendary gospel singing group, Soul Travelers of Durant, Miss. After 54 years, he still heads the group today.

Mr. Bruce is the father of two adult daughters and four grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Walter Bruce, Jr. for his dedication to serving others and giving back to the African American community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Dr. William Truly, who was the first elected mayor of Canton, Mississippi in May 2009.

Originally from New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Mayor Truly relocated to Canton, MS in 1978, after completing medical school at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn.

Dr. Truly became an active member of the community. In 1996 he founded the Truly Medical Center that was one of five medical centers in Canton, MS. He has long served as an advocate for justice and a voice for the people of Canton, including serving as an Alderman-At- Large.

During his inauguration, Dr. Truly pledged to take the ``City of Lights'' (Canton, MS) in a new direction by increasing economic development and seeking more industry.

Since taking office, Mayor Truly has also set out on an ambitious agenda to revitalize Canton by focusing on improvements to public safety, education and making government more accessible to citizens. He is an active participant in his community and currently serves on a number of different Boards.

In addition to being the city's leader, Mayor Truly continues to practice medicine at different hospitals as the Chief Medical Director. Dr. Truly is married to the former Wassie Booker and has five children.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. William Truly for his dedication to serving others in need.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a resourceful and ambitious woman, Mrs. Lille Brown Pittman. Lillie has shown what can be done through hard work, dedication and a desire to serve others.

Lille Pittman, a resident of Delta City, Mississippi was born on July 4, 1940 to Tobias and Charlotte Bell. She graduated from Henry Weathers High School in Rolling Fork, MS in 1959. At the age of 22, she moved to California where she met and married Benjamin Brown and to that union they had three children, Anthony, Antoinette, and Patrice.

While in California, she worked for Raytheon as a Quality Control Inspector and for Hewlett Packard for 5 years as a Quality Assurance Inspector. In 1974, Lille returned to Mississippi with her three children. She was later employed with Asemco and Head Start until she was hit by the entrepreneurial bug. Ms. Pittman applied and obtained a small business loan to purchase the Delta City Trading Post in 1981 which she successfully operated for 8 years. In the midst of operating The Delta City Trading Post, she also created Brown's Janitorial Services, where she had several contracts with the United States Corps of Engineers.

In 1987, Lillie Pittman became the first African American woman to be elected to the Sharkey County Board of Supervisors. During her term in office, she made many accomplishments that brought jobs to the community and was awarded a grant to help low-income homeowners repair their homes.

Although she only served one term, Lillie continued to work effortlessly for her District in Sharkey County. She continues to fight for better jobs, schools, and living conditions for the people of the community.

Her ongoing contributions include petitioning for better water quality in Delta City, working with children in Anguilla, MS to create a community garden, and working with the current County Supervisor to clean up the over grown roadways with the Summer Youth Program. Mrs. Lillie Brown Pittman is currently doing what she calls her greatest work, being a grandmother of four, Salena, Sydney, Margaret Alexander, and Noah.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Lillie Brown Pittman for her dedication for change and serving her community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant. Mr. Charles Moore. Mr. Moore passed away March 14, 2006 and was married to the former Alfolonia Matthews, the father of 5 children, and grandfather of 3.

Mr. Moore was a native Greenvillian. His entire life has been lived in Greenville except for a brief period when he served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. After coming home and completing his high school requirements, he realized he had to make a decision. Either he would leave Greenville or stay and make it a better place for all to live. He chose the latter.

His goals and aspirations were achieved by the following: getting involved in voter registration in the 1950's; getting involved with the inception of Delta Ministry in Greenville, in 1966; helping organize the effort to bring Headstart to his community in 1966; helping organize the effort to integrate Greenville Public Schools in 1968; spearheading the organization of Herbert Lee Center where civil rights meetings were held, which still exists; coordinating several Washington County campaigns; recipient of the Harriet Tubman Award, from the Magnolia Bar Association in 1966; and, recipient of the Point of Pride Award March in 1966.

Mr. Moore was a member of the Church of Christ Holiness, past Commander and lifetime member of Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW), past president of the Greenville Travel Club, retired member of the National Association of Letter Carrier Union (NALC) and the past President of Branch 516 of the NALC. He was also a member of the Secretary of State Dick Molpus Task Force. He filed a discrimination complaint that resulted in Blacks being promoted to managerial positions in the United States Post Office. He was a member of the NAACP since 1946 until his death. He was elected to the City Council, Ward 4 in July 1990 and re- elected for a 4 year term in October 1993. Also, he held the position of vice-mayor of the City of Greenville.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Charles Moore for his dedication to serving others and giving back to the African American community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a decorous and determined man Mr. Frank Crump, Jr., who has shown what can be done through tenacity, dedication and a desire to serve others.

Mr. Crump, a resident of Vicksburg, Mississippi was born on May 26, 1927 to Frank Crump, Sr. and Angeline Turner Crump.

In 1941 Mr. Crump enlisted in the United States Navy where he attended Ships Cook School and Airplane Mechanics. After being honorably discharged from the United States Navy, he graduated from Alcorn State University in 1951 with a Bachelors Degree and in 1978 he earned a Masters Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.

During the summer of 1964; Mr. Crump was instrumental in coordinating the Vicksburg Citizens' Appeal, a newspaper aimed at publicizing news events involving black's worldwide and social events happening in the black community. He also played an intricate role in Freedom Summer, whose mission was to register black voters and initiate a slow sunset for Jim Crow laws.

Mr. Crump has held various positions in education. He was: the Building Grounds Clerk and Mathematics and Physical Science Instructor at Alcorn from 1950-1952; from 1952-1958, while in Chicago, Illinois he worked as postal clerk, aircraft assembler for Ford Motor Company, bus driver and instructor for the Chicago Transit Authority. After returning to Mississippi he worked as a Mathematics Instructor at Mixon Junior High, Utica, MS; Mathematics, Drafting and Physics Instructor at Temple High School, Vicksburg, MS; and Mathematics Instructor at Tallulah High School, Tallulah, LA. Also Mr. Crump served in several capacities at Hinds Community College, Utica Campus including Mathematics Instructor, Vocational-Technical Administrator and Dean of Vocational-Technical Education.

Mr. Frank Crump, Jr. is the recipient of several accolades including: Recognition for Military Services during the Period of the Cold War; Instructor of the Year and Christian Leadership Award through Music to name a few. Similarly, he is a member of several social and civic organizations.

Mr. Crump is married to Orelia Peterson Crump and to that union they had four children.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Frank Crump, Jr. for his unwavering dedication to education and social equality.

Offered by: Mr. Thompson of Mississippi

Amendment No. 4: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), add the following:

Well, all I can say to my colleague is this time you were lucky, and I look forward to next year.

But the other thing you said is so important. The Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus is the largest caucus, bipartisan caucus, here in Congress. Those of you who are not members, we ask you to come join us. We do a lot. But for the good that we do, the good that we serve, it's a good deal.

Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today recognizing one of America's most dedicated public servants and one of Mississippi's strongest advocates; my friend and Director of Field Operations, Mr. Charlie Horhn. After 20 years of public service, Charlie is retiring from the United States House of Representatives.

A native son of Holmes County, Mississippi, born July 9, 1934, Charlie is the sixth of 10 children born from the union of Mr. Tommie & Mrs. Emma Lee Horhn. Charlie, like others who grew up during one of the most trying times in American history--the Great Depression, understands the value of hard work and dedication. His professional experiences can be cataloged from days chopping cotton to rendering years of invaluable service to the United States House of Representatives.

After marrying his childhood sweetheart, the late Mrs. Willistene Levy, Charlie began work as a metal polisher at Presto Manufacturing Company. There his natural knack for leadership quickly catapulted him to the office of local union president. Thereafter, he soon became an expert in union arbitration and negotiations and assumed an active role in voter registration activities being sponsored by the A. Phillip Randolph Institute.

Upon establishment, the well-versed, political savvy, Charlie Horhn became President of the Central Mississippi chapter of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute and later journeyed to become President on the State Chapter. These opportunities ultimately gained him acclaim as a staunch politico throughout the State.

In 1990, Charlie was selected to serve as Assistant to the President of the Mississippi AFL-CIO, giving him leverage in improving employee and labor relations. His work impacted legislation and helped drive membership in the organization.

After an extensive stint in labor advocacy, Charlie became manager of my first congressional campaign for Mississippi's Second District seat during the special election in 1993. After successfully helping me attain office, Charlie was immediately appointed as Director of Field Offices. His leadership has helped countless Mississippi residents in attaining needed assistance.

Charlie was a loving husband and is the devoted father of five. His pathway to success can be largely attributed to his steadfast devotion to and compassion for the people of the State of Mississippi.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in honoring Mr. Charlie Horhn on 20 years of invaluable service to the United States Congress.

Mr. Chairman, while I am not opposed to the amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of this amendment.

Enhancing our security in cyberspace is of the highest importance, but it cannot be done at the expense of our privacy and civil liberties. The key to ensuring the necessary protections are in place is codifying in statute a strong civilian lead for information sharing with the private sector. Our amendment does just that.

Yesterday, I reached an agreement with Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Ruppersberger, and Chairman McCaul to offer this bipartisan amendment to strengthen the bill. The amendment establishes a center within the Department of Homeland Security as the Federal hub for cyber threat information shared under this bill, and the Department of Justice as the hub for all cyber crime information.

With this amendment, citizens may take comfort knowing that their information will be more likely shared with the appropriate civilian agencies with the accompanying accountability and transparency; and businesses can be more sure that their dealings abroad will not be colored by the perception, fair or otherwise, that they are in cahoots with the National Security Agency.

To be clear, this amendment does not fix all of the privacy or liability issues with the underlying bill, but it does establish the strong precedent of civilian control of cyber information sharing; and I hope we can fix the broader issues with the bill, should it pass, further down the line.

This amendment is absolutely essential to the bill, and it sends the right message to the world about the way the United States will act in cyberspace.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Enhance the CIVILIAN Authorities in CISPA

Enhance the CIVILIAN Authorities in CISPA

Dear Colleague: Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member

Ruppersberger of the House Permanent Select Committee on

Intelligence, together with Chairman McCaul and Ranking

Member Thompson of the House Homeland Security Committee,

will offer an amendment that will designate a civilian lead

for the cyber security information sharing program under the

Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA).

This amendment requires the President to designate a

civilian entity within the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS) to be the entry point to receive cyber threat

information and to designate an entity within the Department

of Justice (DOJ) as the civilian entity to receive cyber

threat information related to cybersecurity crimes. These

changes make clear that DHS and the DOJ will serve as points

of entry for those seeking to share cybersecurity threat

information with the federal government.

The amendment also requires the Secretary of DHS, the

Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, and

the Secretary of Defense to establish procedures to eliminate

any personal information from cyber threat information shared

with the federal government. Cyber threat information shared

with the government from any source will be scrubbed of any

personally identifiable information and deleted--this is also

known as ``minimization.''

Every agency receiving cyber threat information must notify

these four agencies, and Congress of significant violations

of the procedures required by the bill. These agencies must

also establish a program to oversee compliance with the

minimization procedures.

We urge you to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

Sincerely,

Michael T. McCaul,

Chairman, Homeland Security Committee.

Bennie Thompson,

Ranking Member, Homeland Security Committee.

Mike J. Rogers,

Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Dutch Ruppersberger,

Ranking Member, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Democratic leader.

Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ruppersberger), the ranking member on the Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. Chair, who has the right to close?

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, at this point, I'd like to say that I agree with Democratic Leader Ms. Pelosi's issue with respect to cyber, particularly critical infrastructure. And I look forward to working with Chairman McCaul on submitting legislation.

With that, Mr. Chair, I encourage Members to support this bipartisan amendment that the chair of the Committee on Homeland Security and I drafted.

I yield back the balance of my time.