Press

Washington—Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Vice Chairman Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) today announced the panel has approved by a vote of 14-1 the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. 

This legislation provides new authorities to improve the operations and oversight of the intelligence community. It also recommends substantial funding and personnel cuts to the administration’s request, while ensuring that the intelligence community has the necessary resources to conduct operations that are vital to our nation’s security.

“As we approach the 10th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11, the intelligence community is stronger, more agile, and better prepared to identify and analyze the threats that confront our nation,” stated Chairman Feinstein.“This legislation provides the resources to maintain those capabilities and guidance on how the intelligence community must adjust to leaner budgets in the years ahead.”

“This bill strikes the right balance: ensuring that our intelligence community has the resources to protect the country from persistent and varied threats while making targeted cuts that are necessary in this tight budgetary environment,” said Vice Chairman Chambliss.“I am also pleased that a number of provisions I offered to improve oversight of Guantanamo detainee transfers were included in the bill.”

The unclassified part of the legislation includes the following provisions to:

• Provide new authorities allowing intelligence agencies to better protect against supply chain risk when procuring information technologies;

• Allow defense intelligence agencies to become financially auditable by authorizing new accounts at the Department of Treasury;

• Provide for equitable treatment for CIA officers killed or injured in the line of duty to that given to members of the U.S. military;

• Strengthen congressional oversight over transfers of detainees from Guantanamo Bay;

• Require the DNI to issue an unclassified report semiannually on the recidivism of detainees formerly held at Guantanamo Bay;

• Require the Senate confirmation of the Director of the National Security Agency;

• Synchronize the various sunset dates included in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to June 1, 2015;

• Make independent cost estimates for future intelligence community programs more accurate by including all associated program costs rather than just direct acquisition costs; and

• Provide flexible personnel management authorities to the Director of National Intelligence to enhance his management of the intelligence community.

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