Hastings’ Amendment Addressing Diversity In The Intelligence Community Passes House
(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-Miramar) lauded the passage by the House of Representatives of an amendment he introduced to H.R. 2701, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. Hastings’ amendment seeks to enhance the diversity of the intelligence community’s workforce. It requires the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), in coordination with the heads of the elements of the Intel community, to submit to Congress a report on the plans of each element of the community, including the DNI, to increase diversity within that element. The amendment passed by a vote of 401 to 11. (Please find attached a copy of the amendment)
“I have stated time and again that the Intelligence Community is not diverse enough to do its job of stealing and analyzing foreign countries’ secrets. Diversity is a mission imperative,” Hastings asserted. “We need people who blend in, speak the language, and understand the cultures in the countries that we are targeting.”
“It is time for the Intelligence Community to get serious about improving diversity for the sake of our national security,” further noted Hastings. “Diversity means hiring. Hiring more Arab-Americans. It means hiring more Iranian-Americans, more Pakistani-Americans, more Chinese-Americans, and more Korean-Americans. If the Intelligence Community is to succeed in its global mission, it must have a global face.”
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings is Vice Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, a senior member of the House Rules Committee, and Co-Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission.
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