Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Upcoming FBIAA "NEWSMAKER" Media Briefing


FIBAA leadership will be at the National Press Club in Washington, DC next week to to discuss the impact of budget cuts on federal law enforcement and national security as only they can - by sharing their own stories and experiences and those of other FBI Agents.

Here's what you need to know about the event -

WHO: FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) President Reynaldo Tariche and Members of the FBIAA
           National Executive Board

WHAT: National Press Club “NEWSMAKER” Media Briefing on Impact of Sequestration and Budget
             Cuts on FBI Agents.

WHEN: Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 10:00 AM

WHERE: National Press Club Zenger Room
               National Press Building, 529 14th St. NW, Washington, DC, 20045, 13th Floor

DETAILS:

FBIAA President Reynaldo Tariche and other members of the National Executive Board will present updates to "Voices from the Field: FBI Agent Accounts of the Real Consequences of Budget Cuts."  The report contains first-hand accounts by FBI agents in the field of how budget cuts are affecting FBI Agents’ daily operations and hampering criminal and national security investigations, and the risks associated with any additional budget cuts and furloughs.

The first-hand accounts include how budget cuts are impacting criminal, counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence investigations.  Further, the report shows that even Agents’ basic transportation needs are being compromised because there is not enough funding for gas.

Because the FBI budget includes both defense and non-defense expenditures, sequestration cuts may be more devastating to the Bureau and Agents than to any other federal agency.  Unless Congress takes action, the FBI will be forced to cut another approximately $800 million from its budget next year, worsening existing budget problems.  Sequestration cuts may result in furloughs of Agents ranging from 10 to 26 days.  

Monday, November 25, 2013

We've Got Bipartisan Concern...We Need a Bipartisan Solution

All across the county and on both sides of the aisle in Washington, we're seeing and hearing agreement that more budget cuts for the FBI are a bad idea.  We know there is agreement that trying to save money by undermining the FBI's ability to protect the public is likely to be far more costly to our country in the long run.

With that in mind, we hope that Congress and the White House will come together to negotiate an agreement that protects national security and public safety, and eliminates devastating cuts to the Bureau that would hurt thousands of dedicated Agents and their families.

Here are some of our favorite quotes that show that concern for those who faithfully and effectively serve the United States each and every day is not a partisan issue.

  • “The FBI joins forces with our intelligence, our military, and homeland security professionals to break up all manner of threats -- from taking down drug rings to stopping those who prey on children, to breaking up al Qaeda cells to disrupting their activities, thwarting their plots.  And your mission keeps expanding because the nature of the threats are always changing. Unfortunately, the resources allotted to that mission has been reduced by sequestration.  I’ll keep fighting for those resources because our country asks and expects a lot from you, and we should make sure you’ve got the resources you need to do the job.  Especially when many of your colleagues put their lives on the line on a daily basis, all to serve and protect our fellow citizens -- the least we can do is make sure you’ve got the resources for it and that your operations are not disrupted because of politics in this town.”  President Barack Obama, October 28, 2013
  • “It was kind of like when you go through your drawers and your pants pockets and you collect the dimes — you can’t do that again.  The second year will be much more difficult.”  Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), Chairman of Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, October 26, 2013
  • “This is a stunning amount of money, particularly when you look at the incredible things that the FBI needs to do. … I’ve got to tell you, this is shocking.  This is a self-inflicted wound … This is not an external threat from a foreign country or … organized crime.  It’s what we’re doing to ourselves.”  Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Chairwoman of Appropriations, May 16, 2013
  • “Let’s take our FBI. Our FBI agents are on the job. They are being paid with IOUs. A group of FBI agents, called Voices from the Field, said to us, their U.S. Government: Guess what. We don’t have gas for our cars. The FBI does not have gas for its cars. The agents’ gas allowance is limited to 200 miles per week, and they can’t even buy gas out of their own pocket.”  Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Chairwoman of Appropriations, October 8, 2013
  • “Sequestration — and its unrealistic and ill-conceived discretionary cuts — must be brought to an end,”  Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), Chairman of Appropriations, July 31, 2013
  • “There are not going to be as many FBI agents, ATF agents, DEA agents, prosecutors who are going to be able to do their jobs.  They're going to be furloughed. They're going to spend time out of their offices, not doing their jobs."  United States Attorney General Eric Holder, February 27, 2013
  • “It was not that long ago that the FBI was working overtime in the aftermath of the Boston bombing. Now, the furloughs at the FBI are the latest example of the irresponsible impact of the sequester."  Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Budget Committee Conferee, September 13, 2013

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

FBI Director Comey Visits Cincinnati, OH Field Office, Warns of Cuts

A local Cincinnati Enquirer article today quoted FBI Director James Comey during a stop at a Cincinnati, OH FBI field office.
FBI Director James Comey

According to the article, when Comey was asked what the office needs from him, the answer was a unanimous request for assistance with the state's serious heroin problem.

But Comey did not have good news for the office - "There are going to be fewer FBI Special Agents and employees across all of my divisions, including Cincinnati," he is quoted as saying.

"They are not going to be working during [furlough periods]," Comey said, according to the Enquirer reporter, "and I venture to say that all the crime that we address together isn't taking that two weeks off."