LEGISLATIVE PROPOSELS TO STRENGTHEN CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79-00957A000100070023-8
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RIFPUB
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K
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
December 20, 2016
Document Release Date: 
January 11, 2006
Sequence Number: 
23
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SUMMARY
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PDF icon CIA-RDP79-00957A000100070023-8.pdf133.31 KB
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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