III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 655 

To improve congressional oversight of the intelligence activities of the United 

States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 

Mr. BOND (for himself, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, and Mr. WHITEHOUSE) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules 

and Administration 

RESOLUTION 

To improve congressional oversight of the intelligence 

activities of the United States. 

Whereas the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate 

was created by Senate Resolution 400 in the 94th Congress to oversee and make continuing studies of the intelligence activities of the United States; 

Whereas Senate Resolution 400 specifically required that the 

Select Committee on Intelligence be composed of at least 

two cross-over members, with one such member from 

each party, from the Committee on Appropriations, the 

Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Foreign 

Relations, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

Senate, which would provide such Committees with member insight into intelligence oversight matters; 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
2 

•SRES 655 IS 

Whereas the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon 

the United States (referred to in this Resolution as the 

‘‘9/11 Commission’’) conducted a lengthy review of the 

facts and circumstances relating to the terrorist attacks 

of September 11, 2001, including those relating to the intelligence community, law enforcement agencies, and the 

role of congressional oversight and resource allocation; 

Whereas in its final report, the 9/11 Commission found that 

under the Rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives in effect at the time the report was completed, the committees of Congress charged with oversight of the intelligence activities lacked the power, influence, and sustained capability to meet the daunting challenges faced by the intelligence community of the United 

States; 

Whereas in its final report, the 9/11 Commission further 

found that as long as oversight is governed by such rules 

of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the people of the United States will not get the security they 

want and need; 

Whereas in its final report, the 9/11 Commission further 

found that a strong, stable, and capable congressional 

committee structure is needed to give the intelligence 

community of the United States appropriate oversight, 

support, and leadership; 

Whereas in its final report, the 9/11 Commission further 

found that the reforms recommended by the 9/11 Commission in its final report will not succeed if congressional oversight of the intelligence community in the 

United States is not changed; 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
3 

•SRES 655 IS 

Whereas the 9/11 Commission recommended structural 

changes to Congress to improve the oversight of intelligence activities; 

Whereas Congress has enacted some of the recommendations 

made by the 9/11 Commission and is considering implementing additional recommendations of the 9/11 Commission; 

Whereas the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 445 in the 

108th Congress to address some of the intelligence oversight recommendations of the 9/11 Commission by abolishing term limits for the members of the Select Committee on Intelligence, clarifying jurisdiction for intelligence-related nominations, and streamlining procedures 

for the referral of intelligence-related legislation, but 

other aspects of the 9/11 Commission recommendations 

regarding fiscal oversight of intelligence have not been 

implemented; 

Whereas, in Senate Resolution 445 in the 108th Congress, 

the Senate provided for the establishment of a Subcommittee on Intelligence of the Committee on Appropriations and gave it jurisdiction over funding for intelligence matters; 

Whereas there remains a need to improve congressional oversight of the intelligence activities of the United States 

and provide a strong, stable, and capable congressional 

committee structure to provide the intelligence community appropriate oversight, support and leadership; and 

Whereas there also remains a need to implement a key 9/11 

Commission recommendation to make structural changes 

within Congress to improve the oversight of intelligence 

activities and provide vigilant legislative oversight to asVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:28 Sep 12, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR655.IS SR655

jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
4 

•SRES 655 IS 

sure that such activities are in conformity with the Constitution and laws of the United States: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, 

2 That Senate Resolution 445, 108th Congress, agreed 

3 to October 9, 2004, is amended by striking section 402 

4 and inserting the following: 

5 ‘‘SEC. 402. SUBCOMMITTEE RELATED TO INTELLIGENCE AP6 PROPRIATIONS. 

7 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 

8 Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a Sub9 committee on Intelligence. 

10 ‘‘(b) JURISDICTION.—The Subcommittee on Intel11 ligence established under subsection (a) shall have exclu12 sive jurisdiction over all funding for the National Intel13 ligence Program, as defined in section 3(6) of the National 

14 Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401(a)(6)). 

15 ‘‘(c) PROCEDURE.—The Subcommittee on Intel16 ligence established under subsection (a) shall approve for 

17 full committee consideration an annual appropriations bill 

18 for the National Intelligence Program. Upon approval by 

19 such Subcommittee on Intelligence, the annual appropria20 tions bill for the National Intelligence Program shall be 

21 considered by the full Committee on Appropriations of the 

22 Senate, without intervening review by any other sub23 committee. Upon approval by the full Committee on ApVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:28 Sep 12, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR655.IS SR655

jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
5 

•SRES 655 IS 

1 propriations, the bill shall then be reported to the Senate 

2 for consideration. 

3 ‘‘(d) COMPOSITION.— 

4 ‘‘(1) MEMBERS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON

5 INTELLIGENCE.— 

6 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Com7 mittee on Appropriations of the Senate who are 

8 also members of the Select Committee on Intel9 ligence of the Senate shall have automatic 

10 membership on the Subcommittee on Intel11 ligence established under subsection (a). 

12 ‘‘(B) EX OFFICIO MEMBER.—If the Chair13 man or Vice Chairman of the Select Committee 

14 on Intelligence of the Senate is not also a mem15 ber of the Committee on Appropriations of the 

16 Senate, then such Chairman or Vice Chairman 

17 shall serve as an ex officio member of such Sub18 committee on Intelligence. 

19 ‘‘(2) SUBCOMMITTEE ON DEFENSE APPROPRIA20 TIONS.—The Chairman and Ranking Member of the 

21 Subcommittee on Defense of the Committee on Ap22 propriations of the Senate shall have automatic 

23 membership on such Subcommittee on Intelligence. 

24 ‘‘(3) CHAIRMAN AND RANKING MEMBER.—The 

25 Chairman and Ranking Member of such SubVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:28 Sep 12, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR655.IS SR655

jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
6 

•SRES 655 IS 

1 committee on Intelligence shall be selected from 

2 among those members who are both members of the 

3 Committee on Appropriations and the Select Com4 mittee on Intelligence of the Senate. 

5 ‘‘(4) OTHER ASSIGNMENTS.—Assignment to, 

6 and a role on, such Subcommittee on Intelligence 

7 shall not count against any other committee or sub8 committee role or assignment of any member of the 

9 Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 

10 ‘‘(e) STAFF.— 

11 ‘‘(1) AUTHORITY TO HIRE.—The Chairman and 

12 Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Intel13 ligence established under subsection (a) shall, in 

14 consultation with the Chairman and Ranking Mem15 ber of the Committee on Appropriations of the Sen16 ate, select, designate, or hire staff for such Sub17 committee. 

18 ‘‘(2) ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.—A 

19 member of the staff of such Subcommittee on Intel20 ligence may not be given access to classified infor21 mation by such Subcommittee unless such staff 

22 member has received an appropriate security clear23 ance, as determined by such Subcommittee in conVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:28 Sep 12, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR655.IS SR655

jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
7 

•SRES 655 IS 

1 sultation with the Director of National Intel2 ligence.’’. 

Æ 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS