Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. Chairman, thank you for your distinguished leadership of the House Intelligence Committee.

Madam Speaker, after 5 long years, we will soon have an intelligence authorization bill enacted into law. I would have thought that the ranking member of the committee would at least acknowledge that, because it is an accomplishment. It is an accomplishment that is worth highlighting, and it is an accomplishment that should be a source of pride to all Members of Congress, because the Congress is weighing in with its priorities.

Now, passage of this act, in my view, is going to reassert Congress' role in the oversight of our Nation's intelligence agencies. We have a very special duty to oversee intelligence activities because our Nation's security is always at stake.

As the chair of the Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management, I've had a particular interest in congressional oversight and the tools that we need to improve it. This bill contains many provisions that will improve the congressional oversight of intelligence activities.

First, the bill requires the DNI to establish procedures to allow GAO access to intelligence community information. This provision will clarify the guidelines under which GAO may audit the intelligence community while recognizing that GAO, on behalf of the intelligence committees, has the authority to do so. The new DNI Clapper noted the value of GAO studies during his confirmation hearing, and this provision will give him the opportunity to live up to his words.

Second, the bill modifies statutory authorization for the so-called ``Gang of Eight'' procedure, and raises the threshold for this limited notification. This is a big change. It requires that the President inform all members of the intelligence committees that a Gang of Eight briefing has occurred and provide a general description of that briefing.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source