CQ NEWS
Jan. 3, 2013 – 5:11 p.m.
Intelligence Bill Reveals Funding Priorities for Classified Spy Budgets
By Tim Starks, CQ Roll Call
The fiscal 2013 intelligence policy bill sent to President
In public remarks and statements entered into the Congressional Record, leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees provided rare insight into funding priorities spelled out in the annual authorization bill, although exact funding levels for specific agencies and programs are classified, and final funding levels are predominantly decided by appropriators.
The bill also contains a number of meaningful policy provisions that are unclassified, such as a provision requiring intelligence agencies to notify Congress when it authorizes the public disclosure of intelligence information.
The House cleared the legislation Dec. 31.
House Intelligence Chairman
“The bill authorizes increased funding for intelligence collection programs, including increased counterintelligence to thwart foreign spies,” Rogers said on the House floor Dec. 31. “It also increases funding for our intelligence community’s comparative advantage — cutting-edge research and development.”
Rep.
On the other hand, Rogers suggested the bill also made some cuts, noting, “This bill promotes operating efficiencies in a number of areas, particularly in information technology, the ground processing of satellite data, and the procurement and operation of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms.”
Added Ruppersberger: “We made cuts where appropriate, eliminated redundancies, and pushed programs to come in on time and on budget.”
Personnel levels would remain relatively flat, Rogers said, with a few exceptions, such as for new FBI agents who would conduct surveillance on terrorists or personnel who would help with coordination and training for allied countries.
Although the two major commercial satellite imagery companies, GeoEye, Inc. and Digital Globe, are attempting to merge, the merger has not been approved by federal regulators yet. The authorization measure contains provisions aimed at increasing competition in that field, Ruppersberger said.
“The bill promotes the commercial space industry by enhancing the government use of commercial imagery and commercial communications services. It requires the government to use commercial imagery to the maximum extent practicable,” Ruppersberger said. “I believe competition is important to ensure we get high quality products while keeping costs down. It drives innovation and provides a much-needed insurance policy in case there are problems with other programs. And it does create jobs.”
The bill authorizes the creation of a new Defense Clandestine Service, Ruppersberger said, although the conference report on the fiscal 2013 defense authorization bill notes that there would be limits on adding new personnel to the service beyond current manpower levels, at least until the Pentagon provides information about the long-term cost of the service and justifies its need and effectiveness.
Intelligence Bill Reveals Funding Priorities for Classified Spy Budgets
Sen.
“Unfortunately, I am certain that damaging leaks of classified information will continue, and so the committee will need to continue to look for acceptable ways to address this problem,” she said Dec. 28.
The bill did retain a leak-related provision that Feinstein said would “require notification to the congressional intelligence committees under certain circumstances with respect to certain disclosures of national intelligence information.”
Other provisions of the bill, Feinstein said, would cut back on the number of reports the intelligence community has to deliver to Congress; facilitate “joint duty” to allow personnel to move around within the intelligence community and gain experience in other agencies; require a plan from the Director of National Intelligence and other spy agencies to cut back on erroneous payments; and compel the executive branch to come up with a strategy for agencies to recognize security clearances issued by other agencies.
“I am pleased that Congress has passed this annual intelligence authorization bill, which allows the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to provide comprehensive oversight of the nation’s intelligence community,” said