Replaces provisions establishing in the Senate Appropriations Committee a Subcommittee on Intelligence with new provisions that: (1) give the Subcommittee exclusive jurisdiction over all funding for the National Intelligence Program (NIP); (2) direct the Subcommittee to approve for full Committee consideration an annual appropriations bill for the NIP; and (3) provide Subcommittee membership and staff.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[S. Res. 655 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 655
To improve congressional oversight of the intelligence activities of
the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 11, 2008
Mr. Bond (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, and Mr. Whitehouse) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules
and Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
To improve congressional oversight of the intelligence activities of
the United States.
Whereas the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate was created by Senate
Resolution 400 in the 94th Congress to oversee and make continuing
studies of the intelligence activities of the United States;
Whereas Senate Resolution 400 specifically required that the Select Committee on
Intelligence be composed of at least two cross-over members, with one
such member from each party, from the Committee on Appropriations, the
Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Foreign Relations, and the
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, which would provide such
Committees with member insight into intelligence oversight matters;
Whereas the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
(referred to in this Resolution as the ``9/11 Commission'') conducted a
lengthy review of the facts and circumstances relating to the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001, including those relating to the
intelligence community, law enforcement agencies, and the role of
congressional oversight and resource allocation;
Whereas in its final report, the 9/11 Commission found that under the Rules of
the Senate and the House of Representatives in effect at the time the
report was completed, the committees of Congress charged with oversight
of the intelligence activities lacked the power, influence, and
sustained capability to meet the daunting challenges faced by the
intelligence community of the United States;
Whereas in its final report, the 9/11 Commission further found that as long as
oversight is governed by such rules of the Senate and the House of
Representatives, the people of the United States will not get the
security they want and need;
Whereas in its final report, the 9/11 Commission further found that a strong,
stable, and capable congressional committee structure is needed to give
the intelligence community of the United States appropriate oversight,
support, and leadership;
Whereas in its final report, the 9/11 Commission further found that the reforms
recommended by the 9/11 Commission in its final report will not succeed
if congressional oversight of the intelligence community in the United
States is not changed;
Whereas the 9/11 Commission recommended structural changes to Congress to
improve the oversight of intelligence activities;
Whereas Congress has enacted some of the recommendations made by the 9/11
Commission and is considering implementing additional recommendations of
the 9/11 Commission;
Whereas the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 445 in the 108th Congress to
address some of the intelligence oversight recommendations of the 9/11
Commission by abolishing term limits for the members of the Select
Committee on Intelligence, clarifying jurisdiction for intelligence-
related nominations, and streamlining procedures for the referral of
intelligence-related legislation, but other aspects of the 9/11
Commission recommendations regarding fiscal oversight of intelligence
have not been implemented;
Whereas, in Senate Resolution 445 in the 108th Congress, the Senate provided for
the establishment of a Subcommittee on Intelligence of the Committee on
Appropriations and gave it jurisdiction over funding for intelligence
matters;
Whereas there remains a need to improve congressional oversight of the
intelligence activities of the United States and provide a strong,
stable, and capable congressional committee structure to provide the
intelligence community appropriate oversight, support and leadership;
and
Whereas there also remains a need to implement a key 9/11 Commission
recommendation to make structural changes within Congress to improve the
oversight of intelligence activities and provide vigilant legislative
oversight to assure that such activities are in conformity with the
Constitution and laws of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
That Senate Resolution 445, 108th Congress, agreed to October 9,
2004, is amended by striking section 402 and inserting the following:
``SEC. 402. SUBCOMMITTEE RELATED TO INTELLIGENCE APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate a Subcommittee on Intelligence.
``(b) Jurisdiction.--The Subcommittee on Intelligence established
under subsection (a) shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all funding
for the National Intelligence Program, as defined in section 3(6) of
the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401(a)(6)).
``(c) Procedure.--The Subcommittee on Intelligence established
under subsection (a) shall approve for full committee consideration an
annual appropriations bill for the National Intelligence Program. Upon
approval by such Subcommittee on Intelligence, the annual
appropriations bill for the National Intelligence Program shall be
considered by the full Committee on Appropriations of the Senate,
without intervening review by any other subcommittee. Upon approval by
the full Committee on Appropriations, the bill shall then be reported
to the Senate for consideration.
``(d) Composition.--
``(1) Members of the select committee on intelligence.--
``(A) In general.--Members of the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate who are also members of
the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate
shall have automatic membership on the Subcommittee on
Intelligence established under subsection (a).
``(B) Ex officio member.--If the Chairman or Vice
Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
Senate is not also a member of the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate, then such Chairman or
Vice Chairman shall serve as an ex officio member of
such Subcommittee on Intelligence.
``(2) Subcommittee on defense appropriations.--The Chairman
and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Defense of the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate shall have automatic
membership on such Subcommittee on Intelligence.
``(3) Chairman and ranking member.--The Chairman and
Ranking Member of such Subcommittee on Intelligence shall be
selected from among those members who are both members of the
Committee on Appropriations and the Select Committee on
Intelligence of the Senate.
``(4) Other assignments.--Assignment to, and a role on,
such Subcommittee on Intelligence shall not count against any
other committee or subcommittee role or assignment of any
member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
``(e) Staff.--
``(1) Authority to hire.--The Chairman and Ranking Member
of the Subcommittee on Intelligence established under
subsection (a) shall, in consultation with the Chairman and
Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate, select, designate, or hire staff for such Subcommittee.
``(2) Access to classified information.--A member of the
staff of such Subcommittee on Intelligence may not be given
access to classified information by such Subcommittee unless
such staff member has received an appropriate security
clearance, as determined by such Subcommittee in consultation
with the Director of National Intelligence.''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8416-8417)
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