Thompson named chair of intelligence subcommittee

Napa Valley Register

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, had a busy day Tuesday.

He spoke to students at Vintage High School in Napa, addressed the Napa Chamber of Commerce just minutes after President Barack Obama signed the economic stimulus bill, and was re-appointed to his second term as chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence.

The subcommittee has jurisdiction over such agencies as the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the national security aspects of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the intelligence aspects of the departments of State, Energy, Treasury and Homeland Security.

As chairman, Thompson directs the subcommittee's hearings, investigations and legislative initiatives.

“I am honored that my colleagues trust me to help ensure our nation has the best intelligence programs in the world and that we are using our capabilities effectively and responsibly,” Thompson said in a prepared statement. “The men and women who serve our country by gathering intelligence are one of our nation's best assets, and I look forward to assisting their efforts.”

Thompson, whose efforts with the subcommittee have taken him to the Middle East multiple times over the years, champions good intelligence as key in the fight against terrorism.

“Securing peace and stability around the world cannot be done without effective intelligence gathering,” he said. “My belief in the power of good intelligence to create a world without terrorism has only been strengthened by my experience on this committee. We must continue to work for a world where intelligence is our best weapon, and war is our last resort.”

The appointment was announced Thursday by Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas.

"Mike Thompson led active oversight efforts as a subcommittee chairman in the 110th Congress, and I am pleased that he will repeat this role again,” Reyes said. “As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence, his efforts are critical to ensuring that the men and women of the Intelligence Community receive the resources and authorities that they need to keep the country safe.”

Thompson will also serve on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee. He serves on the Health and Select Revenue Measures subcommittees of the Committee on Ways and Means, and was on the House Committee on Armed Services from 1998 until 2002.

At Vintage, Thompson addressed many questions, including student concerns about cuts to the state education budget.

While meeting with Napa Chamber of Commerce leaders, Thompson said “there is a lot to applaud” with the stimulus bill, though he also said aspects of it concern him.

While he said Congress has taken important steps to deal with the stumbling economy, “I think there is more work to do.”

He mentioned continuing administration of the bank bailout money approved last year as well as President Obama's anticipated $50 billion to $100 billion proposal for staving off more home foreclosures.