Amata Congratulates DNI Nominee, Thanks Director Coats for Service

Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed the expected nomination of her colleague Congressman John Ratcliffe to serve as the next Director of National Intelligence, and released the following statement:

"Congratulations to my friend, Congressman Ratcliffe. President Trump has announced he plans to nominate him as the next Director of National Intelligence. Congressman Ratcliffe and I are classmates in Congress, having served since the same year.

"This Cabinet position reports to the President and heads up 16 other agencies that handle intelligence duties, including the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency. Congressman Ratcliffe has substantial qualifications for this important responsibility, and he has been active on cybersecurity issues. In the House, he's served both on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which directly handles classified intelligence, and the Committee on Homeland Security. He also has prior experience as U.S. Attorney, in which he prosecuted terrorists.

"Thank you to retiring Director Dan Coats, an Army Veteran, for his long and distinguished service to the country as Senator, Ambassador, Congressman and member of the President's Cabinet."