Mike Rogers RSS Articles

Walden Appoints Members of Bipartisan Supply Chain Working Group

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC – Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) today launched a bipartisan supply chain working group to discuss securing our nation’s communications supply chain. Walden made the announcement as he opened today's subcommittee hearing on "Cybersecurity: An Examination of the Communications Supply Chain."

“As technology evolves so does the urgency to secure our nation’s communications networks,” said Chairman Walden. “Supply chain risk management is essential if we are to guard against those seeking to compromise network equipment or exploit software that runs over and through it. The working group will examine the security of the communications supply chain, the vulnerabilities, the effectiveness of public-private partnerships and the role of the federal government.”

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Ranking Member Anna Eshoo (D-CA) will serve as the group’s co-chairs. The members include Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH), Mike Doyle (D-PA), Lee Terry (R-NE), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), and Jim Matheson (D-UT).

“Protecting our networks from cyber attacks and intruders needs to be a multi-prong attack,” said Rep. Rogers. “There is no one silver bullet and it cannot be fixed by government alone. I look forward to working with Chairman Walden to further these initiatives.”

“The implications of foreign-controlled telecommunications infrastructure companies providing equipment to the U.S. market is a very serious threat, which Congress must review carefully," Rep. Eshoo said. “I’m pleased to co-chair the subcommittee’s newest working group focusing on supply chain security. Through stakeholder meetings, we can better understand what steps can be taken to protect U.S. telecommunications infrastructure from inappropriate foreign control or influence.”

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Rogers Congratulates Livingston County students on Military Service Academy Appointments

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, MI-08, announced today the appointment of two 8th Congressional District students to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and the United States Military Academy at West Point. Livingston County resident, Peter Cender, son of Rudolph and Catherine Cender of Howell, is a graduate of Howell High School. Peter was a recruited athlete and will be playing football at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Austin Cattley, son of Bill and Charlene Cattley, graduated from Lansing Christian High School and currently attends the United States Military Academy (USMA) Prep School. He will be attending West Point starting July 1st with a six- week boot camp that he is looking forward to. Austin comes from a line of Military experience. His Father, brother and sister all completed their 13th year at USMA Prep School as well as going on to West Point.

“Military academy appointments are based on character, leadership potential and academics,” Rogers said. “I am very proud and pleased to have nominated both Austin and Peter to the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Military Academy at West Point. They are outstanding young men prepared to tackle the challenges of becoming leaders among those who defend our nation.”

Nominations are made for the U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO), the U.S. Military Academy (West Point, NY), the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD), and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, NY). From here, each academy narrows the field by granting an appointment to the most qualified nominees. Upon graduation, they are commissioned as officers in their branch of service, where they must complete a multi-year obligation. Students interested in pursuing an education at one of the nation’s prestigious service academies should contact Penni McNamara in the Congressman’s office at 517.702.8000.

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Bipartisan Leaders Urge Congress To Take Action To Protect Great Lakes From Asian Carp

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

TODAY, members of Congress from Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and New York on both sides of the aisle joined together to submit a letter to Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Rahall from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee urging them to prioritize the protection of the Great lake region from Asian Carp. Full letter attached.

A new study by scientists from the University of Notre Dame, The Nature Conservancy, and Central Michigan University was published (April 2013) in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences and found 58 samples of positive Asian carp DNA proving the presence in the Great Lakes.

“These findings of positive detections should send urgent signals that the Great Lakes are in imminent danger,” said U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (MI-08). “The $7 billion in economic activity generated by the Great Lakes fisheries is at risk at a time when Michigan and the nation cannot afford another economic blow.”

Rogers introduced H.R. 985, the Asian Carp Prevention Act of 2013 on March 6, 2013 with 11 bipartisan cosponsors. The proposed bill seeks to encourage the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers to take action specifically at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, Illinois, to prevent invasive species from entering Lake Michigan.

This bill encourages the Secretary of the Army to lead federal actions and develop the necessary projects to prevent invasive species from dispersing into the Great Lakes. These projects may include:

Installing electric, acoustic, air bubble and other barriers
Improving locks

The Asian Carp Prevention Act would direct the Secretary of the Army to implement the recommended emergency measures provided by the efficacy study, or other interim reports, authorized by Congress under the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.

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Michigan congressmen want hearing, action on Asian carp to protect Great Lakes

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Detroit Free Press

WASHINGTON — A group of congressmen, including eight members of the House from Michigan, want a hearing on the potential threat still posed to the Great Lakes by voracious Asian carp.

The office of U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Howell, sent out word of the letter Tuesday to the chairman and ranking Democrat of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee asking them to consider proposals to keep the species from spreading through the Lakes.

“Action is requires to ensure the Great Lakes remain a nationaltreasure for generations to come,” the letter said.

In a news release, Rogers said a new study indicates dozens of samples of Asian carp DNA have been found in the Great Lakes. If action isn’t taken quickly to ensure that invasive species aren’t kept from entering Lake Michigan, Rogers said, “the Great Lakes are in imminent danger.”

Despite the presence of DNA, none of the species of fish known as Asian carp have actually been found in any of the Great Lakes. But Rogers and other lawmakers want additional actions taken to make sure Lake Michigan is separated from bodies of water where the fish have been found.

Other Michigan congressmen signing the letter were U.S. Reps. Dan Benishek, R-Crystal Falls; Dave Camp, R-Midland; John Conyers, D-Detroit, Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland; Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township; Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph; and Tim Walberg, R-Tipton.

Contact TODD SPANGLER at 703-854-8947 or at tspangler@freepress.com.

Republicans slam IRS targeting of Tea Party as 'chilling,' a form of intimidation

Sun, 12 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Washington Republicans on Sunday characterized the IRS targeting Tea Party groups and other conservative political organizations as “chilling” and intimidating acts that heighten Americans' mistrust in government.

Their comments follow the IRS acknowledgment Friday that the agency targeted such groups during the 2012 election cycle to see whether they were violating their tax-exempt status -- a revelation followed by a report that such activity dated back to the previous year.

“The conclusion that the IRS came to is that they did have agents who were engaged in intimidation of political groups,” Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers told “Fox News Sunday.” “I don't care if you're a conservative, a liberal, a Democrat or a Republican, this should send a chill up your spine. It needs to have a full investigation.”

Evidence that the IRS was flagging such groups in 2011 was included in a draft inspector general's report obtained Saturday by Fox News and other news organizations and is expected to be released in full later this week.

That information seemingly contradicts public statements by IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, who told congressional investigators in March 2011 that specific groups were not being targeted.

On Sunday, Fox News obtained a timeline from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration that shows the practice started in 2010 and that IRS agents also were looking for groups associated with such phrases as "We the People," and "Take Back the Country."

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins on Sunday also called the IRS activities chilling and said she was disappointed that President Obama had not condemned the actions.

“This is truly outrageous and it contributes to the profound distrust that the American people have in government,” Collins told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “It is absolutely chilling that the IRS was singling out conservative groups for extra review. And I think that it’s very disappointing that the president hasn’t personally condemned this.”

At about the same time, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney released a statement saying: “If the inspector general finds that there were any rules broken or that conduct of government officials did not meet the standards required of them, the president expects that swift and appropriate steps will be taken to address any misconduct."

Michigan Republican Rep. Dave Camp, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said Friday his committee will hold a hearing on the issue.

The IRS said Friday that it was sorry for what it called the "inappropriate" targeting of the conservative groups during the 2012 elections.

But the draft report seemingly contradicts public statements by Shulman and shows senior IRS officials knew agents were targeting Tea Party groups as early as 2011.

Lois G. Lerner, who heads the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt organizations, said Friday that the practice was initiated by low-level workers in Cincinnati and was not motivated by political bias.

But on June 29, 2011, Lerner found out that such groups were being targeted, according to the inspector general's report.

She was told at a meeting that groups with "Tea Party," "Patriot" or "9/12 Project" in their names were being flagged for additional and often burdensome scrutiny, the report states.

The 9/12 Project is a group started by conservative TV personality Glenn Beck.

Collins also said she does not believe the activity was limited to “a couple of rogue IRS employees."

"After all,” she added, “groups with `progressive' in their names were not targeted similarly."

California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Affairs, was also dubious about the explanation that the flagging was a limited, low-level activity.

"This mea culpa is not an honest one," he told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Lerner said that about 300 groups were singled out for additional review, with about one-quarter scrutinized because they had "tea party" or "patriot" somewhere in their applications.

She also said 150 of the cases have been closed and no group had its tax-exempt status revoked, though some withdrew their applications.

Rep. Mike Rogers: ‘More whistleblowers’ forthcoming on Benghazi

Sun, 12 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

By Sean Sullivan

The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said Sunday he believes “more whistleblowers” will come forward with information on the deadly attack last year on diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya.

“I do think we are going to see more whistleblowers. I know certainly my committee has been contacted, I think other committees [have been contacted] as well,” Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) said on “Fox News Sunday.”

Rogers’s comments came days after a trio of State Department officials criticized the Obama administration’s actions regarding the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing.

“I will tell you, we have had people come forward because of the testimony and say, we would also like to talk, we feel a little bit intimidated by this, but have information we think is valuable,” Rogers said.

Rogers also charged that the administration “changed the narrative” on Benghazi. New details surfaced Friday about e-mails that illustrated a clash between the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency over talking points in the aftermath of the assault in which four Americans, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, were killed.

“We know that there was at least the general consensus at the time going into the 16th [of September] that was yes, it was a terrorist attack, but they changed the narrative. And I think that’s what the investigation needs to focus on — why did they change the narrative, did it have a consequence,” Rogers said.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said last November the only change the White House and State Department made to the talking points was substituting in “diplomatic facility” for “consulate” in the final version.

The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), defended the administration, saying it didn’t mislead anyone. Smith called for lawmakers to direct their focus to the groups responsible for the attacks instead of focusing on talking points.

“Clearly there were more changes made than [Carney's] statement made. … I would much rather get into an investigation of the groups that threaten the U.S,” Smith said.

The Democrat also charged Republicans with playing politics. ”This has just become a very, very partisan-focused, scandal-focused attack by the Republicans investigating this instead of trying to figure out what happened,” said Smith, echoing what Carney said on Friday.

“I doubt anyone can say we’ve been partisan or political in this,” countered Rogers.

Rogers to Honor 8th Congressional District Students with the Medal of Merit

Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers on Monday, May 13, will present students in Michigan’s Eighth Congressional District with the Medal of Merit to recognize, honor, and acknowledge their exemplary citizenship and academic excellence throughout their high school careers.

These 30 students – representing Ingham, Livingston, and Oakland counties – have shown leadership among their peers in the areas of community service, school citizenship, and involvement in extracurricular activities. They have significantly contributed to making their schools and communities better places.

WHO: U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, MI-08, and Medal of Merit student recipients

WHAT: Senior students designated as recipients will receive a Certificate of Congressional Recognition and a Congressional Medal of Merit on behalf of Rogers.

WHEN: Monday, May 13, 2013 3:00 P.M.

WHERE: Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, House Appropriations Room, Third Floor.

The student honorees are:

Ingham

Sophia Bozzo, J.W. Sexton High School; Nathaniel Eggleston, Lansing Catholic High School; Timothy Hirschel-Burns, East Lansing High School; Jessica Holmes, New Covenant Christian School; Marjai Kamara, Eastern High School; Laura Karlen, Mason High School; Isabel Marek, Lansing Christian School; Huong Thien Nguyen, Everett High School; Kiel Oates, Holt High School; Mayank Patke, Okemos High School; Tristan Slabaugh, Dansville High School; Micah Ward, Stockbridge High School; Nick Webster, Webberville High School; Samuel Wegenke, Haslett High School; Kara Weinstein, Leslie High School

Livingston

Jessica Bond, Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy; Bryan Condra, Hartland High School; Cameron Hein, Pinckney Community High School; Sean Pengelly, Hartland High School; Benjamin Schultz, Howell High School; Ursus Uziemblo, Fowlerville High School; Hayley Williamston, Brighton High School

Oakland

Abigail Lynn Bryson, Lake Orion Baptist High School; Michaella DeRubeis, Rochester High School; Rachel Dober, Lutheran High School Northwest; Makayla Eckardt, Oxford High School; Devon Guinn, Stoney Creek High School; Alicia Hepler, Waterford Kettering High School; Sharvil Patel, Clarkston High School; Connor Stalions, Lake Orion High School

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Rep. Mike Rogers: U.S. should be ‘coach’ not ‘sheriff’ in Syria

Sun, 05 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Rep. Mike Rogers: U.S. should be ‘coach’ not ‘sheriff’ in Syria

By Sean Sullivan, Updated: May 5, 2013

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) called Sunday for the Obama administration to lead its allies’ efforts in Syria, but urged against the deployment of any U.S. troops to the country.

[Face the Nation Interview: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50146217n ]

“Our Arab League partners are already in Syria and trying to provide help to the opposition,” Rogers said on CBS News’s “Face The Nation.” “I argue with U.S. leadership — and again this is not boots on the ground — U.S. leadership through intelligence and training and other things … could be hugely helpful.”

He added: “We really don’t want to be the sheriff, but we do want to be the coach.”

Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, urged that action only be taken in consultation with partners.

“We can’t be the sheriff to the whole world,” Ruppersberger said. “We have our own issues right now — Iraq, Afghanistan, we have sequestration, those type of issues. So, when we make the move to get in, we have to do it with a coalition.”

Some lawmakers have called for the Obama administration to provide weapons to the rebel forces who oppose the Syrian government. Ruppersberger said both sides of the conflict already have a lot of weapons and the focus should be on coordinating the use of them.

“This issue about weapons — there are plenty of weapons in Syria right now on both sides. It’s a matter of coordinating those weapons and making sure they are used in the right way,” he said.

The comments came as reports surfaced that Israeli war planes bombed the outskirts of the Syrian capital for the second time Sunday morning. Rogers described a rapidly deteriorating situation in Syria, and said it is clear that chemical weapons have been used in the conflict, a threshold President Obama has referred to as a “red line.”

“We’ve been saying for some time now, we believe over the course of two years, small amounts of chemical weapons have been used,” Rogers said. “I think that’s beyond a shadow of a doubt at this point.”

WSJ: Judge Made Call to Advise Suspect of Rights

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

A federal judge decided to advise Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev of his Miranda rights, even though investigators apparently still wanted to question him further under a public-safety exception.

The judge's move, made on Monday in the hospital where Mr. Tsarnaev was recovering, has prompted some Republican lawmakers to press the Justice Department as to why it didn't make a stronger bid to resist the judge's plans.

Those lawmakers say Mr. Tsarnaev's interrogation should have continued without him being advised of his right to remain silent, because they say agents should have had more time to determine if there were other undetected bombs or plotters. After being read his rights, the suspect stopped talking to investigators, officials said.

"There will be more instances like this, and we will need to have a much better understanding about what is appropriate," House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R., Mich.) said in an interview Thursday. "We have a long-standing tradition that the judiciary does not interfere with investigations. This sets a very dangerous precedent."

Police guard the entrance to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on April 20, where Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is being treated.

Investigators are invoking the "public safety exception" in their questioning of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev before advising him of his rights. Will using it now make things more difficult for prosecutors later? WSJ's Jason Bellini has "The Short Answer." Image: Associated Press/ Bob Leonard

Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said Thursday, "The rules of criminal procedure require the court to advise the defendant of his right to silence and his right to counsel during the initial appearance.'' Mr. Boyd said Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler made it clear on Sunday, after the first sealed charges were filed in her court against Mr. Tsarnaev, 19 years old, that the hearing would be held the following day.

Federal rules require that defendants appear before a judge without unnecessary delay—usually defined as within one business day.

Judge Bowler convened the brief, makeshift court hearing in the hospital room about 16 hours after the complaint was filed. Her reading of the Miranda warning came as part of the formal presentation of charges to the suspect, an act that would normally take place in court.

Judge Bowler was the first government official to advise Mr. Tsarnaev of his right to remain silent after his capture Friday night, officials briefed on the matter said.

The judge first told the Justice Department on Saturday that she intended to read Mr. Tsarnaev his rights on Monday, according to people briefed on the discussions. One U.S. official said the judge cited the intense television coverage of the capture as one reason for initiating the criminal prosecution.

Through a court clerk, the judge declined to comment.

Under a 1984 Supreme Court ruling, a public-safety exception allows investigators to question suspects for an unspecified period without giving them a Miranda warning. The exception is designed to give law-enforcement officials time to determine if there are other threats to public safety.

It will ultimately be up to a court to decide which, if any, of the statements Mr. Tsarnaev made before he got the warning could be admissible evidence for the prosecution.

Andrew Arena, the former head of the Detroit office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation when it handled the case of the plane "underwear bomber'' in 2009, said he thought the Boston case was handled properly.

"When you bring the judge into it, that's what's going to happen. They don't work for the Justice Department, they don't work for Capitol Hill, they are going to do what they are legally obligated to do,'' said Mr. Arena. "I think [investigators] got what they were going to get out of him, anyway.''

The legal treatment of Mr. Tsarnaev will revive a debate over how terrorist suspects should be interrogated and treated, a charged topic.

Omar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian who tried to blow up the plane landing in Detroit, was read his Miranda rights shortly after his arrest, setting off a political furor. He initially stopped cooperating with investigators but later resumed.

Mr. Rogers said Justice officials should have pushed back on the judge's plans, citing the unique circumstance that additional bombs could still be in play. He wrote to Attorney General Eric Holder late Wednesday to register his concerns.

"What I find shocking is that the judiciary proactively inserted itself into this circumstance and the Justice Department so readily acquiesced to the circumstance," he said. "The court doing this proactively, they may have jeopardized our ability to get public-safety information."

Mr. Rogers, a former FBI agent, said because of the severity of the threat and the suspect's poor health, investigators didn't have sufficient time to question him. Among the information investigators were still seeking was whether others were involved in the attacks and whether there were additional explosives hidden somewhere, he said.

The FBI was aware Judge Bowler was planning to go to the hospital Monday and was "not happy about it," he said. "They believed they needed more time. This is not a good way to stop another bomb from going off."

An FBI spokesman declined to comment.

The revelation about the judge's role came late Wednesday at a briefing before the House Intelligence Committee. One lawmaker in the meeting asked FBI Deputy Director Sean Joyce why the FBI didn't raise objections, according to another U.S. official. Mr. Joyce said in essence it wasn't the FBI's role to object to such a determination, the official said.

The answer surprised many of the lawmakers, the official said. "The whole tenor in the room changed," the official said.

Michael McCaul (R., Texas), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a video interview on WSJ.com that the initial interrogation left much unknown. "The level of sophistication of these devices…leads a lot of us to believe there was some sort of training done by others," Mr. McCaul said. "I find it a bit astounding that people right out of the box are saying there's no foreign connection whatsoever, when the fact is the FBI has just begun their investigation."

Separately on Thursday, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Mr. Tsarnaev told interrogators that he and his brother, Tamerlan, had "spontaneously'' decided during a late-night crime spree last week to travel to Times Square to detonate the remainder of their explosives. But then, Tamerlan, 26, was killed in a firefight with police.

Authorities had previously said the two suspects had planned to go to New York to "party,'' based on statements the suspect made in his hospital bed late Saturday night. The following night, according to officials, he said that the brothers came up with the idea to drive to New York and detonate a half-dozen remaining homemade bombs. On Wednesday, federal counterterrorism officials notified the New York Police Department of Mr. Tsarnaev's statement.

New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the brothers had one pressure-cooker bomb in their possession at the time, similar to the two used in the Boston blasts that killed three people and left more than 200 injured. The five remaining explosives were pipe bombs, Mr. Kelly said.

Wall Street Journal #Cispa Reboot

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

A day after gun control fizzled in an acrimonious Senate, the House was a model of comity. Democrats joined Republicans on Thursday to adopt the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, or Cispa, a limited measure to defend America's computer systems.

Ah, bipartisanship and cybersecurity—surely all of Washington thinks we could use more of both? Sponsored by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, Cispa enjoys broad support from business, including Silicon Valley. Everyone also seems to agree about the urgent need to strengthen defenses against a growing virtual threat from hackers, rogue states and China.

So naturally Cispa will probably die a slow legislative death. How do we know? We watched this movie last year. Then, too, Michigan Republican Mike Rogers and Maryland Democrat Dutch Ruppersberger wanted to improve voluntary information-sharing in real time about cyber threats between the government and private companies. This is as unthreatening as it sounds.

The Obama White House, hardly known for close engagement in the legislative process, didn't weigh in during the drafting of the bill. Days before the House voted, President Obama blind-sided Mr. Ruppersberger and issued a veto threat. Cispa went nowhere in the Senate, which took up the White House's preferred solution to impose costly security mandates on business. But giving the government such regulatory authority over the Internet was a nonstarter in the House. In the end nothing passed.

The difference this week is that the veto threat that the White House issued on Tuesday didn't come as a surprise. Yet no fewer than 92 Democrats, up from 42 last April, defied the President. Cispa 2.0 passed 288-127.

The White House claims the bill fails "to safeguard personal information adequately," which plays well with the privacy scolds who'll oppose any bill related to the Internet. To sample the degree of paranoia involved here, search #Cispa on Twitter.

The latest version of Cispa strengthens privacy protection. Senators and a President who want more could always take the measure adopted Thursday and modify it, then try to turn a compromise into law in a House-Senate conference. The White House legislative office might want to Google that "Schoolhouse Rock" jingle, "I'm Just a Bill," for a refresher about how this works.

The question is whether the Administration wants to do something to increase cybersecurity, or if it would rather sit back and blame the House if there's a future attack. An overwhelming bipartisan majority wants to do something. Tell us again, who's to blame for the dysfunction in Washington?

A version of this article appeared April 20, 2013, on page A14 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: #Cispa Reboot.