Pelosi Statement on Intelligence Authorization Bill

Statement

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the intelligence authorization legislation passed as a suspension bill today:

"Authorizing the intelligence activities of the United States is one of the most serious and consequential responsibilities of the Congress. The intelligence bill shapes the balance between intelligence gathering and civil liberties in our laws, and it is not to be dealt with casually. That is why Democrats have been uneasy with Republicans' moving the intelligence bill through the House without amendment or substantive debate.

"Republicans are continuing their systematic effort to diminish the scope and undermine the independence of the vital Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board -- the only truly independent entity empowered to review national security programs. Under this bill, Republicans create a new requirement for the board to have specific Congressional authorization for its activities, and create reporting requirements that could infringe on the independence of the board. Democrats were also prevented from offering an amendment to remove a troubling Republican provision from last year's bill, which prohibited the board from reviewing and accessing covert action information.

"Furthermore, Republicans are blatantly targeting President Obama in examining the terrorist activities of released and transferred Guantanamo detainees, while excluding the more than 500 detainees released by President Bush. As the annual Director of National Intelligence reports on terrorist reengagement have consistently shown, detainees released by President Bush have a much higher rate of recidivism, but Republicans are not interested in the facts. It is deeply disappointing that Republicans have sought to block open debate of these and other issues."

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