Washington, D.C. – Text of floor statement by Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice), chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, during debate of HR 2701, the FY10 Intelligence Authorization Act:
“I rise in strong support of the bill before us today and commend the Speaker and Chairman Reyes for achieving Administration support for a key provision.
“During four years as Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, I fought hard to expand the handful of Members briefed by the Bush Administration. In my view, that Administration abused the definition of covert action under the National Security Act of 1947.
“Recently declassified transcripts from those briefings will show instances when serious concerns were raised regarding legal authorities for a range of policies, including ‘enhanced interrogation techniques.’
“Those were dark days, when even as Ranking Member, I struggled to get operational details about programs well within the jurisdiction of our committee.
“As a member of the so-called ‘Gang of 8,’ I had no ability to consult staff or other colleagues about the information I received.
“By the end of the Bush Administration, more Members were briefed about sensitive programs, but the changes were not sufficient. It has taken a lot of persuasion to convince the Obama Administration to agree formally to brief the entire Intelligence Committees, in most cases, about the government’s covert action programs.
“The bill before us today requires the President to provide all Members of the Intelligence Committees the same briefings delivered to the ‘Gang of 8’ within six months unless he certifies ‘extraordinary circumstances.’
“And all Members of the Intelligence Committees must be notified that a ‘Gang of 8’ briefing has occurred.
“The bill also requires the Director of National Intelligence to work with GAO to gain access to information within the Intelligence Community to be included in their reports.
“These changes go a long way toward correcting the problems that plagued both sides of the aisle during my tenure on the House Intelligence Committee.
“I am also pleased that the bill contains a provision I authored to require the DNI, in consultation with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to submit a report to Congress about the threat of dirty bombs, including highly dispersible substances such as cesium-137.
“As an institution, Congress must exert our prerogative to monitor and rectify problems that surface in the programs that affect both our security and our liberty.
“The American people deserve no less.”
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