LEGISLATIVE PROPOSELS TO STRENGTHEN CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-00957A000100070023-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 11, 2006
• Sequence Number: 23
• Content Type: SUMMARY

Approved For Release 2007/02/24: CIA-RDP79-00957A000100070023-8
Legislative Proposals to Strengthen Congressional
Oversight of Intelligence Agencies
The following proposals designed to strengthen Congres-
sional oversight of the nation's intelligence agencies are presently
pending before the Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations:
I. S. 4019, introduced by Senators Baker and Weicker,
would establish a fourteen-member Joint Committee on Intelligence
Oversight. Such Committee would have principal responsibility for
all intelligence agency authorizing legislation and for all general
oversight of those agencies such as the CIA, FBI, NSA, DIA, etc.
The Committee would not, however, take away oversight responsi-
bilities of those committees presently exercising such jurisdiction.
2. S. Res. 419, , introduced by Senators Mansfield, and
Mathias, would create a Select Committee to Study Governmental
Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities. Such Committee
would be charged with conducting a two-year study of all United
States intelligence agencies and recommending any needed legislation
to improve the Congressional oversight role. Dlembership on the
Committee would be composed of four democrats and four republicans.
3. S. 2738, introduced by Senators Nelson and Jackson,
would create a Joint Committee on the Continuing Study of the Need
to Reorganize the Departments and Agencies Engaging in Surveillance.
Such Committee would be authorized to make a continuing review of
the need to reorganize Federal departments and agencies engaged in
investigation or surveillance of individuals, to examine the need
for such surveillance, and to recommend any legal or structural
changes necessary to protect the privacy of individuals. The
1 . - ita ee we u;.d not have jurisdiction over "lawful investigative
Cir, and/or surveillance activities related to the defense or national
security of the United States conducted within the territorial
boundaries of the United States," or over "any activities of agencies
.and departments of the United States government conducted outside
the territorial boundaries of the United States." Membership of the
Committee would be composed of the majority and minority leaders of
the Senate and the [louse and the chairman and ranking minority
members of all congressional committees having jurisdiction over
agencies engaged in surveillance activities.
Approved For Release 2007/02/24: CIA-RDP79-00957A000100070023-8
 4. S. 1547, introduced by Senator I-Iumphrey,.would create
a Joint Committee on National Security. Such Committee would be
charged with studying and making recommendations concerning: (1) the
foreign, domestic and military policies of the United States from
the perspective of determining whether such policies are appropriately
integrated in furtherance of national security goals; (2) the
activities and recommendations of the National Security Council
relating to such policies; and (3) Government practices with respect
to classification and declassification of documents. Membership on
the Committee -would be composed of the Speaker of the House, the
majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate, the chairmen
and ranking minority members of the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations, the House and Senate Armed Service Committees, the
Senate Foreign Relations and the House Foreign Affairs Committees, and
the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy. In addition, three members
from each house shall be appointed to sit on the Committee, for a
total of twenty-five members.
Approved For Release 2007/02/24: CIA-R?P79-00957AO00100070023-8