LETTER TO WILLIAM J. CASEY FROM LEE H. HAMILTON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000400470036-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 2, 2011
• Sequence Number: 36
• Publication Date: February 13, 1986
• Content Type: LETTER

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Office of Legislative Liaison
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SUSPENSE 27 Feb 1986
Date
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EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
ROUTING SLIP
arks iv n1J:
Af'iough no response is called for in this letter,
pelase consult with DCI/DDCI whether we choose to
make any reclama. Hamilton is trying to be
helpful, buthhis-&egilistic approach does not seem
to be what we sould desire.
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LOUIS STOKES. OHIO
DAVE MCCURDY, OKLAHOMA
ANTHONY C. REILENSON. CALIFORNIA
ROBERT W. KASTENMEIER. WISCONSIN
DAN DANIEL VIRGINIA
ROBERT A. ROE, NEW JERSEY
GEORGE E. BROWN. JR., CALFORNIA
MATTHEW F. MCHUGH. NEW YORK
BERNARD J. DWYER. NEW JERSEY
BOB STUMP. ARIZONA
ANDY IRELAND. FLORIDA
HENRY J. HYDE, ILLINOIS
DICK CHENEY. WYOMING
BOB LMNGSTON. LOUISIANA
BOB MCEWEN. OHIO
THOMAS K. LATIMER. STAFF DIRECTOR
MICHAEL J. ONEIL CHIEF COUNSEL
STEVEN K. BERRY. ASSOCIATE COUNSEL
Room 11-105. U.S. CAPITOL
1202) 225-1121
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE
ON INTELLIGENCE
Executive R3g;stry
86-0640X
? t
February 13, 1986
Honorable William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D. C. 20505
Dear Mr. Casey:
Thank you for your letter of December 24, 1985 detailing your concerns
over recent requests from other committees of the House.
I agree with you that the inquiries of other committees of the House can
create problems for your Agency in protecting sensitive intelligence
information. Further, you are correct that the purpose of establishing the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence was to centralize Congressional
responsibility for intelligence oversight in one committee devoted to that
purpose. However, neither the House Rules nor Section 501 of the National
Security Act of 1947 establish exclusive jurisdiction over intelligence
matters in the Intelligence Committee. Moreover, the formal processes of
resolving jurisdictional disputes within the House are focused on the
consideration of legislation or other matters actually before the House
itself. The House indirectly affirms jurisdiction in cases where it cites
individuals for contempt of Congress, but such cases are rare and to be
avoided if at all possible.
Because there are few formal processes for resolving jurisdictional
problems, informal methods most often resolve conflicts over jurisdictional
issues. The Committee stands willing to assist, as it has in the past, in
resolving problems between intelligence agencies and other committees of the
House, but it is most likely to be effective when drawn into the process at
the request of the other committee. Indeed, the Committee has an obligation
under the Rules of the House to keep other committees of the House informed of
matters which require their attention and to respond to requests from Members
and other committees for information in the possession of this Committee.
I appreciate your drawing the attention of the Committee to the requests
detailed in your letter. Recently, the Department of Defense brought a
similar matter to the attention of the Committee. I have told Defense
officials we will assist where possible to ensure that other committees
receive intelligence information which they need for the conduct of their
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oversight duties but that the Committee's Rules require determinations on such
matters to be made on a case-by-case basis with consultation as necessary with
appropriate intelligence officials. I repeat that pledge to you. I am
hopeful that the Committee can contribute to sensible and satisfactory
solutions to problems that may arise from a reluctance by intelligence
agencies to provide sensitive intelligence information to other committees of
the Congress.
With best wishes, I am
Lee H. Hamilton
Chairman
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