In every corner of the country and around the world a relentless competition is taking place between U.S. counterintelligence services and the intelligence services of foreign powers. The contest isn’t well understood because it takes place beyond the view of most Americans, but its outcome is hugely consequential to America’s future.

Language in the Intelligence Authorization Act recently passed by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence would take necessary steps to shore-up American counterintelligence.

Championed by Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), the counterintelligence portion of the bill is known as the Strategic Enhancement of Counterintelligence and Unifying Reform Efforts, or SECURE Act.

For too long our nation’s technologies have been stolen and our military information compromised by foreign intelligence services that found ways to evade American counterintelligence. These losses feel abstract, but they matter to everyday Americans.

When espionage allows a foreign country to anticipate our military actions, gain access to our trade secrets and obtain our advanced research, it can target service members, compete unfairly with American companies and defeat or outperform our military systems. Espionage threatens the lives of Americans, limits our ability to deter and defeat enemies and undermines our economy.

The defensive failures of American counterintelligence are........

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