Pelosi Statement on House Passage of Intelligence Authorization Conference Report

'The New Direction Congress is committed to improving coordination among the 16 intelligence agencies and intelligence-related activities of the U.S.

government to better protect the American people and ensure the highest quality of intelligence for policymakers. This legislation, the first intelligence authorization conference report in two years, contributes to the achievement of these goals by enhancing oversight and management and ensuring that our intelligence professionals have the resources they need.

'I am also pleased that the legislation extends the prohibitions against torture contained in the Army Field Manual to Intelligence Community personnel.  It is vital that our government's interrogation practices not vary on an agency by agency basis and that practices actually employed are lawful, likely to produce reliable intelligence, and reflective of our nation's values.

'With the passage of this legislation, Congress has reasserted its critical oversight role on intelligence activities.  The investments the bill makes in human intelligence, counterterrorism operations, and analysis will help achieve the New Direction's primary goal of making America safer.'