Intelligence Authorization
The bill also has strong accountability measures, including provisions to promote efficiency and effectiveness in intelligence programs, improve accountability on the use of contractors, and enhance oversight. In its report, the Intelligence Committee notes that intelligence community leaders seem not to have an adequate understanding of the size and composition of the contractor work force, a consistent and well-articulated method for assessing contractor performance, or strategies for managing a combined staff-contractor workforce. Therefore, the bill requires the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to provide the intelligence committees with an annual report on instances of contractors committing waste, fraud, and abuse, failing to perform on a contract, or violating the law; and that contains a review of contractor accountability mechanisms. The bill also requires quarterly intelligence reports to Congress on the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea. It also requires the CIA Inspector General to conduct an audit of covert action programs no less than once every three years. Furthermore, it requires the Administration to provide the intelligence committees with a full listing of all special access programs.
Chairman Reyes opens debate:
| Chairman Reyes: "We require quarterly intelligence reports to Congress on the nuclear equipments programs of Iran and North Korea. We also require that the CIA Inspector General conduct an audit of covert activities no less than one every three years. And we require the Administration to provide the Intelligence Committees with a full list of all special access programs. We also require detailed reports to Congress on the use of contractors in the intelligence community because their use has grown without adequate oversight both by Congress and even by the executive branch." |