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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 164 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 164

 Amending Senate Resolution 400, 94th Congress, and Senate Resolution 
    445, 108th Congress, to improve congressional oversight of the 
  intelligence activities of the United States, to provide a strong, 
 stable, and capable congressional committee structure to provide the 
intelligence community appropriate oversight, support, and leadership, 
  and to implement a key recommendation of the National Commission on 
               Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 2, 2009

   Mr. Feingold (for himself, Mr. Burr, Mr. Bayh, Ms. Snowe, and Mr. 
 McCain) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                 Committee on Rules and Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Amending Senate Resolution 400, 94th Congress, and Senate Resolution 
    445, 108th Congress, to improve congressional oversight of the 
  intelligence activities of the United States, to provide a strong, 
 stable, and capable congressional committee structure to provide the 
intelligence community appropriate oversight, support, and leadership, 
  and to implement a key recommendation of the National Commission on 
               Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.

Whereas the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States 
        (hereinafter referred to 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 congressional 
        oversight of the intelligence activities of the United States is 
        dysfunctional;
Whereas in its final report, the 9/11 Commission further 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 
        such 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;
Whereas in its final report, the 9/11 Commission recommended structural changes 
        to Congress to improve the oversight of intelligence activities;
Whereas in its final report, the 9/11 Commission further recommended that the 
        authorizing authorities and appropriating authorities with respect to 
        intelligence activities in each house of Congress be combined into a 
        single committee in each house of Congress;
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; and
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 intelligence oversight have not 
        been implemented: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this resolution are--
            (1) to improve congressional oversight of the intelligence 
        activities of the United States;
            (2) to provide a strong, stable, and capable congressional 
        committee structure to provide the intelligence community 
        appropriate oversight, support, and leadership;
            (3) to implement a key recommendation of the National 
        Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the 
        ``9/11 Commission'') that structural changes be made to 
        Congress to improve the oversight of intelligence activities; 
        and
            (4) to provide vigilant legislative oversight over the 
        intelligence activities of the United States to ensure that 
        such activities are in conformity with the Constitution and 
        laws of the United States.

SEC. 2. INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT.

    (a) Authority of the Select Committee on Intelligence.--Paragraph 
(5) of section 3(a) of Senate Resolution 400, agreed to May 19, 1976 
(94th Congress), is amended in that matter preceding subparagraph (A) 
by striking the comma following ``authorizations for appropriations'' 
and inserting ``and appropriations,''.
    (b) Abolishment of the Subcommittee on Intelligence.--Senate 
Resolution 445, agreed to October 9, 2004 (108th Congress), is amended 
by striking section 402.
                                 <all>
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