House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced Wednesday he backs a plan for the House to establish a “blue ribbon commission” to review the U.S. Secret Service, which is under intense scrutiny over recent security breaches.
The commission will be assembled by House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mike McCaul, R-Texas.
McCaul said he will introduce legislation to establish the commission, which he said would conduct “a full, top to bottom review of the agency.”
Here is Boehner’s statement:
“Given the Secret Service’s proud history and the duties it is charged with, we are right to expect nothing but candor and clarity from its leaders, particularly at a time when Americans are as aware as ever that we live in a dangerous world. Unfortunately, the Secret Service director’s appearance before the Oversight & Government Reform Committee has left us with more questions than answers. Already, we have learned of a prior security breach in Atlanta that she failed to mention. The more we discover, the clearer it becomes that the Secret Service is beset by a culture of complacency and incompetence. As such, the president must make a swift determination on whether the agency is being well-served by its current leadership. Moreover, I fully support Chairman McCaul’s plan for a top-to-bottom, independent review of the agency. The courageous men and women who put their lives in harm’s way every day for the Secret Service deserve the best possible leadership and a culture worthy of their sacrifices.”
