Strengthening Oversight of National Security Act of 2017

To amend the National Security Act of 1947 to modify the requirements for membership in the National Security Council and cabinet-level policy forum, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Oversight of National Security Act of 2017 2. Modification of membership requirements for National Security Council and Cabinet-Level Policy Forum (a) National Security Council Section 101(c) of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3021(c) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by striking The Council Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Council (B) by inserting the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of Energy, (C) by striking and such other officers of the United States Government as the President may designate. appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) Limitation on membership and participation (A) Approval by Congress The President may not designate as a member or attendee a covered individual under paragraph (1) (excluding the National Security Advisor and Deputies, the Homeland Security Advisor and Deputies, the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, the Counsel to the President, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the Assistant to the Vice President for National Security) unless a joint resolution or bill is enacted approving of the designation of the covered individual by the President. (B) Covered individual defined In this paragraph, the term covered individual . 3. Interagency forum for policy consideration and decisionmaking (a) Creation There is a cabinet-level interagency forum for policy consideration and decisionmaking to support the National Security Council. (b) Composition Except as provided in subsection (c), the composition of the interagency forum for policy consideration and decisionmaking to support the National Security Council shall reflect the membership of the National Security Council and any member of the executive branch who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, as determined by the President. (c) Exceptions (1) In general Any exception to the requirement of subsection (b) shall only be permitted for a one-time decisionmaking action. (2) Notification to Congress The President shall submit to Congress a notification of any exercise of an exception permitted by this subsection not later than 24 hours after the execution of such exception.

Summary: Strengthening Oversight of National Security Act of 2017 This bill amends the National Security Act of 1947 to add the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as statutorily required members of the National Security Council (NSC). (The current NSC members required by statute are the President, the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Energy.) The bill prohibits the President from designating as additional members or attendees of the NSC any individuals in positions that are not subject to Senate confirmation (excluding the National Security Advisor and deputies, the Homeland Security Advisor and deputies, the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, the Counsel to the President, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the Assistant to the Vice President for National Security) unless Congress approves of the designation through enactment of a joint resolution or a bill. The cabinet-level interagency forum for policy consideration and decision-making that supports the NSC must reflect the membership of the NSC and any Senate-confirmed member of the executive branch designated by the President. Exceptions to this forum composition are permitted for a one-time decision-making action, but the President must notify Congress within 24 hours after execution of such an exception.