WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor ahead of voting to confirm Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence.
Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.
Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared:
“The Senate will soon vote on the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence.
“Congresswoman Gabbard has the right background, the right experience, and the right perspective to keep America safe and secure.
“Congresswoman Gabbard has served in uniform or more than 20 years. She deployed to the Middle East several times. She serves in the military today and was recently promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
“As a member of Congress for eight years, Congresswoman Gabbard served on the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees.
“Her experience handling highly classified information is extensive.
“As Director of National Intelligence, she will handle classified information properly and lawfully.
“Congresswoman Gabbard is more than qualified to serve as our Director of National Intelligence.
“I’ve heard a lot of debate about Congresswoman Gabbard. Not one Senator has disputed a simple fact: She took a hard line on Russia and Iran.
“In 2013, Congresswoman Gabbard co-sponsored the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act.
“Congresswoman Gabbard wanted severe sanctions on Iran. Then-President Obama wanted to appease Iran.
“Congresswoman Gabbard opposed the Iran Deal. She viewed it as a threat to both America and Israel.
“She was right.
“In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea. President Obama rejected sending tank-busting missiles to Ukraine. He instead sent them blankets. The sanctions he imposed on Russia were weak.
“Congresswoman Gabbard argued for U.S. military assistance to Ukraine. She also called for painful sanctions against Russia.
“She never sought war with Russia. Yet she never kid herself about Russia’s aggressive ambitions.
“She worked to stop wars, even though she served and was ready to fight in them. She knows what it means when we talk about peace through strength.
“The Democrat attacks on her patriotism and loyalty are disturbing. There is no evidence to support them.
“The attacks on Congresswoman Gabbard are another case of Democrats equating political disagreement with disloyalty.
“If Washington wants Americans to trust our intelligence agencies again, we need to take an axe to the weaponization of those very agencies.
“Congresswoman Gabbard will keep politics out of intelligence gathering. She wants to return ODNI to its original size, scope, and mission.
“As she wrote in Newsweek, ‘I promise to provide unbiased, timely, and accurate intelligence for those making decisions to protect the people of our country.’ This is exactly what we need.
“Tulsi Gabbard is the right choice to be the Director of National Intelligence. I look forward to confirming her.”
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