Dutch's Committees

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Congressman Ruppersberger was the first Democratic freshman ever to be appointed to the House Select Committee on Intelligence. The committee oversees the collection and analysis of intelligence information from all around the world to ensure our national security and prevent potential crisis situations — especially terrorist activity. 

Congressman Ruppersberger was named Ranking Member of the Intelligence Committee in 2011. The Ranking Member is the senior-most member from the minority party and places Congressman Ruppersberger on the elite “Gang of Eight,” which refers to the four top members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees along with the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, House Speaker and House Minority Leader. By law, the President must keep the Gang of Eight informed on our country’s most secret intelligence activities to maintain proper oversight.

It is important for the nation to have a robust intelligence capability and to have an effective oversight process to ensure that intelligence resources are not misused. Intelligence operations and law enforcement activities are governed by laws which are not in all cases the same. Ensuring that these laws are followed is a key component of Congress' oversight responsibilities and was the primary reason for the creation of the congressional intelligence committees. The sensitive nature of intelligence requires that its budget receive extra Congressional scrutiny.

Previously, Congressman Ruppersberger chaired the Technical and Tactical Intelligence Subcommittee – which oversees the country’s space program, cybersecurity and signal intelligence agencies– for four years. He also serverd on the Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis, and Counterintelligence Subcommittee and the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.

Previous Committee Assignments

Armed Services Committee
Committee on Appropriations
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform