Union Calendar No. 692
114th Congress } { Report
2d Session } HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES { 114-881
_______________________________________________________________________
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITY
OF THE
HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
FOR THE
ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
December 20, 2016.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
----------
House of Representatives,
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,
Washington, DC, December 20, 2016.
Hon. Karen Haas,
Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mrs. Haas: Pursuant to clause 1(d) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House of Representatives for the 114th Congress, I
present herewith a report entitled ``Report on the Activity of
the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, 114th
Congress.''
Sincerely,
Devin Nunes,
Chairman.
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Letter of Transmittal............................................ III
Membership....................................................... 1
Jurisdiction..................................................... 2
Legislative and Oversight Activities............................. 3
Oversight Plan for the 114th Congress and Implementation and
Hearings Held Pursuant to Clause 2(n), (o), and (p) of House
Rule XI........................................................ 8
Appendix I--Part A: Committee Reports; Part B: Public Laws; Part
C: Committee Hearings & Briefings.............................. 11
Union Calendar No. 692
114th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 114-881
======================================================================
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON
INTELLIGENCE FOR THE ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEENTH CONGRESS
_______
December 20, 2016.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and
ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Nunes of California, from the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence, submitted the following
R E P O R T
PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
FULL COMMITTEE LIST
ADAM B. SCHIFF, California, DEVIN NUNES, California,
Ranking Member Chairman
JAMES A. HIMES, Connecticut JEFF MILLER, Florida
TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, Texas
ANDRE CARSON, Indiana PETER T. KING, New York
JACKIE SPEIER, California FRANK A. LoBIONDO, New Jersey
MIKE QUIGLEY, Illinois LYNN A. WESTMORELAND, Georgia
ERIC SWALWELL, California THOMAS J. ROONEY, Florida
PATRICK E. MURPHY, Florida JOSEPH J. HECK, Nevada
JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas MIKE R. POMPEO, Kansas
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio
BRAD R. WENSTRUP, Ohio
CHRIS STEWART, Utah
Damon Nelson, Staff Director
Michael Bahar, Minority Staff
Director
----------
SUBCOMMITTEE LIST
CIA Subcommittee
ERIC SWALWELL, California, FRANK A. LoBIONDO, New Jersey,
Ranking Member Chairman
JAMES A. HIMES, Connecticut K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, Texas
ANDRE CARSON, Indiana PETER T. KING, New York
JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas LYNN A. WESTMORELAND, Georgia
THOMAS J. ROONEY, Florida
MIKE R. POMPEO, Kansas
Department of Defense Intelligence and Overhead Architecture
Subcommittee
TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama, JOSEPH J. HECK, Nevada,
Ranking Member Chairman
ERIC SWALWELL, California JEFF MILLER, Florida
PATRICK E. MURPHY, Florida ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio
CHRIS STEWART, Utah
BRAD R. WENSTRUP, Ohio
Emerging Threats Subcommittee
MIKE QUIGLEY, Illinois, THOMAS J. ROONEY, Florida,
Ranking Member Chairman
TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama FRANK A. LoBIONDO, New Jersey
ANDRE CARSON, Indiana JOSEPH J. HECK, Nevada
JACKIE SPEIER, California MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio
BRAD R. WENSTRUP, Ohio
CHRIS STEWART, Utah
NSA and Cybersecurity Subcommittee
JAMES A. HIMES, Connecticut, LYNN A. WESTMORELAND, Georgia,
Ranking Member Chairman
JACKIE SPEIER, California JEFF MILLER, Florida
MIKE QUIGLEY, Illinois K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, Texas
PATRICK E. MURPHY, Florida PETER T. KING, New York
MIKE R. POMPEO, Kansas
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
JURISDICTION AND SPECIAL OVERSIGHT FUNCTION
Clause 11(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives for the 114th Congress sets forth the
jurisdiction of the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence--
(A) The Central Intelligence Agency, the Director of
National Intelligence, and the National Intelligence
Program as defined in section 3(6) of the National
Security Act of 1947.
(B) Intelligence and intelligence-related activities
of all other departments and agencies of the
Government, including the tactical intelligence and
intelligence-related activities of the Department of
Defense.
(C) The organization or reorganization of a
department or agency of the Government to the extent
that the organization or reorganization relates to a
function or activity involving intelligence or
intelligence-related activities.
(D) Authorizations for appropriations, both direct
and indirect, for the following:
(i) The Central Intelligence Agency, the
Director of National Intelligence, and the
National Intelligence Program as defined in
section 3(6) of the National Security Act of
1947.
(ii) Intelligence and intelligence-related
activities of all other departments and
agencies of the Government, including the
tactical intelligence and intelligence-related
activities of the Department of Defense.
(iii) A department, agency, subdivision, or
program that is a successor to an agency or
program named or referred to in (i) or (ii).
Clause 3(m) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives for the 114th Congress sets forth the Special
Oversight Function of the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence as follows--``The Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence shall review and study on a continuing basis laws,
programs, and activities of the intelligence community and
shall review and study on an exclusive basis the sources and
methods of entities described in clause 11(b)(1)(A).''
LEGISLATIVE AND OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
During the 114th Congress, 52 bills or resolutions were
referred to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
(Committee).
Committee Action
The Committee reported three measures to the House, two of
which contained provisions that were later enacted into law
through H.R. 2029, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016.
Those measures were: H.R. 1560, the Protecting Cyber Networks
Act, introduced by Chairman Devin Nunes; and H.R. 2596, the
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, introduced
by Chairman Devin Nunes. The third measure reported by the
Committee passed the House: H.R. 5077, the Intelligence
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, introduced by Chairman
Devin Nunes.
The Committee discharged five additional measures, two of
which were enacted into law: H.R. 2048, USA Freedom Act of
2015, introduced by Mr. James Sensenbrenner; and S. 1632, A
bill to require a regional strategy to address the threat posed
by Boko Haram, introduced by Sen. Susan Collins. The three
other measures discharged by the Committee that passed the
House were: H. Res. 842, Expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives regarding the terrorist attacks launched
against the United States on September 11, 2001, introduced by
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy; H. Res. 891, Expressing concern
over the disappearance of David Sneddon, introduced by Mr.
Chris Stewart, a member of the Committee; and H.R. 6480, the
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, introduced
by Chairman Devin Nunes.
Other Measures Within the Committee's Jurisdiction
In addition to those measures described above, six measures
referred to the Committee passed the House. Those measures
were: H.R. 3654, the Combat Terrorist Use of Social Media Act
of 2015, introduced by Mr. Ted Poe; H.R. 4127, the Intelligence
Authorization Act for 2016, introduced by Chairman Devin Nunes;
H.R. 4239, the Tracking Foreign Fighters in Terrorist Safe
Havens Act, introduced by Mr. Frank LoBiondo, a member of the
Committee; H.R. 5607, Enhancing Treasury's Anti-Terror Tools
Act, introduced by Mr. Robert Pittenger; H.R. 5631, Iran
Accountability Act of 2016, introduced by Majority Leader Kevin
McCarthy; and H.R. 6393, the Intelligence Authorization Act for
2017, introduced by Chairman Devin Nunes.
At least two other measures containing matters within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Intelligence were enacted into
law: S. 1356, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2016, introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson; and H.R. 5790, the
Federal Bureau of Investigation Whistleblower Protection
Enhancement Act of 2016, introduced by Mr. Jason Chaffetz.
Additionally, S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2017, introduced by Sen. John McCain, was
presented to the President on December 14, 2016.
The following is a summary of the legislative and oversight
activities of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of
the 114th Congress. In addition, this report includes a summary
of hearings held pursuant to clauses 2(n), (o), and (p) under
House rule XI.
Legislative Activities
Full Committee
USA FREEDOM ACT
(H.R. 2048)
Summary
H.R. 2048 reformed the authorities of the Federal
Government to require the production of certain business
records, conduct electronic surveillance, use pen registers and
trap and trace devices, and use other forms of information
gathering for foreign intelligence, counterterrorism, and
criminal purposes.
Legislative History
H.R. 2048 was introduced by Mr. James Sensenbrenner on
April 28, 2015, and was referred to the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Financial Services,
and the Committee on the Judiciary.
On April 30, 2015, the Committee on the Judiciary held a
business meeting to consider H.R. 2048 and ordered the bill
reported to the House, as amended, by a recorded vote of 25
ayes and two noes.
On May 8, 2015, the Committee on the Judiciary reported
H.R. 2048 to the House.
On May 8, 2015, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence discharged H.R. 2048.
On May 13, 2015, the House considered H.R. 2048, and passed
the bill by a recorded vote of 338 ayes and 88 noes.
On June 2, 2016, the Senate considered H.R. 2048, as
amended, and passed the bill by a recorded vote of 67 ayes and
32 noes.
On June 2, 2015, President signed H.R. 2048, which became
Public Law 114-23.
PROTECTING CYBER NETWORKS ACT
(H.R. 1560)
Summary
The purpose of H.R. 1560 was to improve cybersecurity in
the United States through enhanced sharing of information about
cybersecurity threats and amended the Homeland Security Act of
2002 to enhance multi-directional sharing of information
related to cybersecurity risks and strengthen privacy and civil
liberties protections.
H.R. 1560 contained provisions that were later enacted into
law as Division N of H.R. 2029, the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2016.
Legislative History
H.R. 1560 was introduced by Chairman Devin Nunes on March
24, 2015, and referred to the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence.
On March 26, 2015, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence held a business meeting to consider H.R. 1560 and
ordered the bill reported to the House, as amended, by a voice
vote.
On April 13, 2015, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence reported H.R. 1560, as amended, to the House.
On April 22, 2015, the House considered H.R. 1560, as
amended, and passed the bill by a recorded vote of 307 ayes and
116 noes.
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016
(H.R. 2596)
Summary
The purpose of H.R. 2596 was to authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2016 for intelligence and intelligence-related
activities of the United States Government, the Community
Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency
Retirement and Disability System.
H.R. 2596 contained provisions that were later enacted into
law as Division M of H.R. 2029, Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2016.
On December 1, 2016, the House considered related
legislation, H.R. 4127, under suspension of the rules, and
passed the bill by a recorded vote of 364 ayes and 58 noes.
H.R. 4127 contained provisions from H.R. 2596, and also
reflected extensive negotiations with the Senate.
Legislative History
H.R. 2596 was introduced by Chairman Devin Nunes on June 1,
2015, and referred to the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence and the Committee on the Budget.
On June 4, 2015, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence held a business meeting to consider H.R. 2596 and
ordered the bill reported to the House, as amended, by a voice
vote.
On June 9, 2015 the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence reported H.R. 2596, as amended, to the House.
On June 9, 2015, the Committee on the Budget discharged
H.R. 2596.
On June 16, 2015, the House considered H.R. 2596, as
amended, and passed the bill by a recorded vote of 247 ayes and
178 noes.
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
(H.R. 5077)
Summary
The purpose of H.R. 5077 was to authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2017 for intelligence and intelligence-related
activities of the United States Government, the Community
Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency
Retirement and Disability System.
On November 30, 2016, the House considered related
legislation, H.R. 6393, under suspension of the rules, and
passed the bill by a recorded vote of 390 ayes and 30 noes.
H.R. 6393 contained provisions from H.R. 5077, and also
reflected extensive negotiations with the Senate.
Legislative History
H.R. 5077 was introduced by Chairman Devin Nunes on April
27, 2016, and referred to the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence.
April 29, 2016, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence held a business meeting to consider H.R. 5077 and
ordered the bill reported to the House by a voice vote.
On May 18, 2016, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence reported H.R. 5077 to the House.
On May 24, 2016, the House considered H.R. 5077, as
amended, under suspension of the rules, and passed the bill by
a recorded vote of 371 ayes and 35 noes.
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING THE
TERRORIST ATTACKS LAUNCHED AGAINST THE UNITED STATES ON SEPTEMBER 11,
2001, ON THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THAT DATE
(H. RES. 842)
Summary
H. Res. 842 expresses the sense of the House of
Representatives regarding the terrorist attacks launched
against the United States on September 11, 2001, on the 15th
anniversary of that date.
Legislative History
H. Res. 842 was introduced by Majority Leader Kevin
McCarthy on September 6, 2016, and was referred to the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee
on Homeland Security.
On September 9, 2016, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Armed Services,
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Committee on
the Judiciary, and the Committee on Homeland Security
discharged H. Res. 842.
On September 9, 2016, the House considered H. Res. 842 by
unanimous consent and passed the resolution without objection.
EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER THE DISAPPEARANCE OF DAVID SNEDDON, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
(H. RES. 891)
Summary
H. Res. 891 expresses concern over the disappearance of
David Sneddon.
Legislative History
H. Res. 891 was introduced by Mr. Chris Stewart on
September 26, 2016, and was referred to the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
On September 28, 2016, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence and Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged H.
Res. 842.
On September 28, 2016, the House considered H. Res. 891 by
unanimous consent and passed the resolution without objection.
A BILL TO REQUIRE A REGIONAL STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE THREAT POSED BY
BOKO HARAM
(S. 1632)
Summary
The purpose of S. 1632 was to require a regional strategy
to address the threat posed by Boko Haram.
Legislative History
S. 1632 was introduced by Ms. Susan Collins on June 18,
2015.
On July 28, 2015, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate reported S. 1632 with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute.
On September 22, 2015, the Senate considered S. 1632 by
unanimous consent and passed the bill without objection.
On September 24, 2015, S. 1632 was referred to the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Committee on
Foreign Affairs.
On December 7, 2016, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence and the Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged S.
1632.
On December 7, 2016, the House considered S. 1632 by
unanimous consent and passed the bill without objection.
On December 14, 2016, President signed S. 1632, which
became Public Law 114-266.
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
(H.R. 6480)
Summary
The purpose of H.R. 6480 was to authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2017 for intelligence and intelligence-related
activities of the United States Government, the Intelligence
Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence
Agency Retirement and Disability System.
H.R. 6480 contained provisions from H.R. 5077 and H.R.
6393, and also reflected extensive negotiations with the
Senate.
Legislative History
H.R. 6480 was introduced by Chairman Devin Nunes on
December 8, 2016, and referred to the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence.
On December 8, 2016, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence discharged H.R. 6480.
On December 8, 2016, the House considered H.R. 6480 by
unanimous consent and passed the bill without objection.
OVERSIGHT PLAN FOR THE 114TH CONGRESS
Clause 1(d)(2)(E) of rule XI also requires that each
committee provide a delineation of any hearings held pursuant
to clauses 2(n), (o), or (p) of rule XI. Those clauses require
the Committee, or a subcommittee thereof, to hold at least one
hearing on egregious instances of agency waste, fraud, abuse,
and mismanagement, at least one hearing on agency financial
statements, and one hearing on programs that, according to
reports issued by the Comptroller General of the United States,
are at high risk for waste, fraud, and mismanagement. As part
of the Committee's oversight and authorization of the
Intelligence Community budget, the Committee conducts numerous
classified hearings and briefings that focus on issues of
potential waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in federal
agencies. These Committee efforts result in the annual
intelligence authorization bill. That bill is accompanied by a
detailed classified annex on all Intelligence Community
programs and budgets. A review of potential waste, fraud,
abuse, and mismanagement within these programs is an
inextricable part of the development of the classified annex.
In addition to the classified annex, the Committee also
conducted a number of unclassified oversight activities during
the 114th Congress.
Intelligence Community Information Technology Environment
Since the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) first
announced his intention to pursue an Intelligence Community
Information Technology Environment (IC ITE) in 2011, the
Committee has expended considerable effort overseeing all
aspects of the project's planning and implementation. On
February 4, 2016, the Committee adopted--and provided the
Intelligence Community with--a report entitled ``IC ITE
Security Posture'' and the final report. The report concluded
that IC ITE will increase the security of the IC information
environment from both internal and external threats but
highlighted the complexity of the endeavor and provided five
recommendations to the IC. The report was the result of a year-
long study that included interviews with IC ITE leadership and
technical directors, document reviews, and numerous staff
briefings and meetings.
Abbottabad Documents
On May 20, 2015, in response to Section 313 of the
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, the
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) declassified and posted on
its website 103 documents recovered during the May 2, 2011,
raid that killed Usama bin Laden. On March 1, 2016, the CIA
declassified and posted 113 additional documents. On November
15, 2016, CIA declassified what the DNI described as the
``final tranche'' of the documents but had not, as of December
1, 2016, posted them or notified the Committee of the number of
documents in that tranche.
The Abbottabad documents came from over 100 thumb drives,
hard drives, cell phones, paper files and other documents and
materials collected during the raid and could fill a ``small
college library.'' The Committee directed the declassification
review so the material could to serve the public interest and
help demystify bin Laden and al-Qa'ida without compromising
national security. Moreover, the public release provides
insights into al-Qa'ida's operations, tradecraft and its
relationships with regional nation states, organizations and
people. The 216 documents released to date represent a small
percentage of the documents deemed to have intelligence value
and the Committee continues to push for an expeditious
declassification review of the remaining documents.
Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex
In July 2015, the Committee began an independent assessment
of the Department of Defense (DOD) analysis of the optimal
location for the Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex (JIAC), an
intelligence center designed to support the U.S. European
Command, U.S. Africa Command, the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, and various other intelligence customers.
On July 20, 2015, the Committee published an independent
cost estimate of the JIAC location, which stated that the DOD
did not consider alternatives that could result in over $1.1
billion of savings. After publishing the report, the Committee
received information from multiple whistleblowers that
indicated that the DOD had also provided the Committee with
incorrect and misleading information. Based upon these
findings, the Committee, in coordination with the Committee on
Armed Services and the Committee on Appropriations,
Subcommittee on Defense, requested that DOD reassess its basing
decision for the JIAC. The three Committees also jointly
requested that the Government Accountability Office conduct an
independent review of the DOD analysis.
The three committees also requested, in coordination with
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, that the DOD Inspector General
investigate the possible intentional provision of
misinformation to Congress related to the JIAC. The Committee
initiated its own investigation into the provision of false
information to Congress, in coordination with OGR. To date, the
Committee has conducted sixteen transcribed interviews and
reviewed over 1,000 pages of documents provided by the DOD as
part of this investigation. The Committee has also requested an
additional 15 interviews and various documents, which the DOD
has not yet provided to the Committee. The JIAC investigation
has been a topic of significant discussion in at least four
Committee hearings, including the Committee's hearings on
November 15 and November 17, 2016.
9/11 Joint Inquiry ``28 Pages''
On July 15, 2016, the Committee approved publication of a
newly declassified section of the 2002 Joint Congressional
Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After
the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001. Following a
declassification review, the Obama Administration decided to
declassify the Joint Inquiry's only wholly classified section,
commonly referred to as the ``28 pages.'' The Administration
then sent this document--with redactions to protect sources and
methods--to congressional leadership, and the Committee
subsequently posted the unclassified version of the 28 pages on
its website.
U.S. Central Command Joint Task Force
On December 11, 2015, along with the Committee on Armed
Services and the Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on
Defense, the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee
on Intelligence, the Committee established a Joint Task Force
(JTF) to investigate the allegations of a whistleblower related
to intelligence produced by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
intelligence directorate. The whistleblower alleged that
CENTCOM had manipulated intelligence to present an unduly
positive outlook on CENTCOM efforts to train the Iraqi Security
Forces (ISF) and combat the self-proclaimed Islamic State of
Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Although investigations into the whistleblower's claims
continue, the JTF issued an initial report on August 11, 2016.
Among other findings, the JTF report determined that
intelligence products approved by senior CENTCOM leaders
typically provided a more positive depiction of U.S. anti-
terrorism efforts than was warranted by facts on the ground and
were consistently more positive than analysis produced by other
elements of the Intelligence Community. It further determined
that numerous process changes implemented at CENTCOM as well as
leadership deficiencies resulted in widespread dissatisfaction
among CENTCOM analysts who felt their superiors were distorting
their products.
Though not formally part of the JTF, minority members of
the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence also conducted
an inquiry into the whistleblower's claims. On August 11, 2016,
the minority released preliminary, unclassified findings. Among
other things, the minority found that CENTCOM's process for
producing intelligence assessments deviated from best practices
and insufficiently accommodated analysts' dissenting views,
which at times led to more optimistic tactical assessments of
the ISF relative to ISIL. The minority found no evidence,
however, that intelligence production had been politicized.
At the time of its report, the JTF had conducted nearly 25
hours of classified transcribed interviews; travelled twice to
CENTCOM headquarters for briefings, observations, and further
discussions; received briefings in Washington; reviewed
analytic products provided by the DOD; and evaluated survey
results and related material submitted in connection with the
President's Fiscal Year 2017 budget request.
Review of the Unauthorized Disclosures of Former National Security
Agency Contractor Edward Snowden
On September 15, 2016, the Committee issued an unclassified
summary of its bipartisan investigative report on Edward
Snowden, the former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor
who fled to China and then Russia after stealing 1.5 million
classified documents. The result of a two-year inquiry, the
report describes Snowden's background, likely motivations, and
methods of theft, as well as the damage done to U.S. national
security as a result of his actions.
During its investigation, the Committee held one open
hearing, eight additional closed hearings and briefings,
followed by numerous staff-level briefings on Snowden's
disclosures. In those oversight events, the Committee and its
staff investigated how this breach occurred, what the U.S.
Government has learned about Snowden, and whether the security
shortfalls the breach highlighted had been remedied.
The Committee's review was careful not to disturb any
criminal investigation or future prosecution of Snowden, who
has remained in Russia since he fled there on June 23, 2013.
Concurrent with the approval of the report, the Committee sent
the full 36-page review to the executive branch, for a
classification review. The Committee filed a declassified
version of the report with the House in December 2016.
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
The Committee regularly receives extensive information on--
and engages with the Executive branch regarding--the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Throughout 2016,
Committee Members met with non-Committee Members to discuss the
value of reauthorizing FISA Section 702 and made available to
such Members extensive information about the implementation
thereof.
Other Oversight Activities
In addition to Committee investigations and Committee's
oversight and authorization of the Intelligence Community
budget and waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement issues, the
Committee receives information on significant intelligence
activities and conducts numerous classified hearings and
briefings. Those events focused on the range of national
security and intelligence related issues including: Russia,
Iran, China, North Korea, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, weapons of
mass destruction, cyber threats and attacks, the status of
released Guantanamo Bay detainees, refugee screening, terrorist
threats to the Homeland, and terrorist attacks in Orlando, San
Bernardino, Paris, and Brussels. While details of the vast
majority of the Committee's oversight activities must
necessarily remain classified, a complete list of hearings and
briefings is provided in Part C of Appendix I.
APPENDIX I
PART A--COMMITTEE REPORTS
Reports filed with the House by the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence:
114-63: To Accompany H.R. 1560, the Protecting Cyber
Networks Act.
114-144: To Accompany H.R. 2596, the Intelligence
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.
114-573: To Accompany H.R. 5077, the Intelligence
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.
Additionally, in December 2016, the Committee filed with
the House a declassified version of its September 2016 report,
``Review of the Unauthorized Disclosures of Former National
Security Agency Contractor Edward Snowden.''
PART B--PUBLIC LAWS
Four bills that contained matters within the jurisdiction
of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence were enacted
into law during the 114th Congress.
H.R. 2048, the USA Freedom Act of 2015, became Public Law
114-23 on June 2, 2015.
S. 1356, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2016, became Public Law 114-92 on November 25, 2015.
H.R. 2029, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016,
became Public Law 114-113 on December 18, 2015.
S. 1632, a bill to require a regional strategy to address
the threat posed by Boko Haram, became Public Law 114-266, on
December 14, 2016.
H.R. 5790, the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2016, was signed by
the President on December 16, 2016.
Additionally, bills that contained matters within the
jurisdiction of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
were presented to the President for his signature during the
114th Congress.
S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2017, was presented to the President on December 14, 2016.
PART C--COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND BRIEFINGS
On January 21, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On January 28, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
business meeting.
On February 2, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On February 5, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On February 10, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On February 12, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
business meeting.
On February 13, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On February 24, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On February 25, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
hearing.
On February 26, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On March 2, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed hearing.
On March 3, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On March 16, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On March 17, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
hearing.
On March 19, 2015, the Full Committee held an open hearing
on ``The Growing Cyber Threat and its Impact on American
Business.''
On March 23, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On March 24, 2015, the Department of Defense Intelligence
and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee held a closed hearing.
On March 25, 2015, the National Security Agency and
Cybersecurity (NSA/Cyber) Subcommittee held a closed hearing.
On March 26, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
business meeting.
On April 14, 2015, the Department of Defense Intelligence
and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee held a closed briefing.
On April 14, 2015, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Subcommittee held a closed hearing.
On April 15, 2015, the NSA/Cyber Subcommittee held a closed
hearing.
On April 16, 2015, the Department of Defense Intelligence
and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee held a closed hearing.
On April 21, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On April 22, 2015, the Department of Defense Intelligence
and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee held a closed hearing.
On April 23, 2015, the Emerging Threats (ET) Subcommittee
held a closed hearing.
On April 30, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On May 1, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On May 12, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On May 18, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On May 20, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On June 1, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On June 3, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On June 4, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed business
meeting.
On June 9, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On June 12, 2015, the ET Subcommittee held a closed
briefing.
On June 15, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On June 18, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On June 23, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On July 7, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On July 9, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On July 16, 2015, the CIA Subcommittee held a closed
briefing.
On July 21, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On July 23, 2015, the Department of Defense Intelligence
and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee held a closed hearing.
On July 27, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On July 28, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On July 28, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On September 8, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On September 10, 2015, the Full Committee held an open
hearing on ``Worldwide Cyber Threats.''
On September 16, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On September 18, 2015, the Department of Defense
Intelligence and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee held a
closed hearing.
On September 28, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On October 1, 2015, the CIA Subcommittee held a closed
briefing.
On October 6, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On October 9, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On October 20, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On October 26, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On November 2, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On November 3, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On November 5, 2015, the NSA and Cybersecurity Subcommittee
held a closed briefing.
On November 16, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On November 19, 2015, the Emerging Threats Subcommittee
held a closed briefing.
On November 30, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On December 3, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On December 9, 2015, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On January 5, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On January 6, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On January 7, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
business meeting and a closed briefing.
On January 11, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On January 13, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On February 1, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
business meeting and a closed briefing.
On February 4, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
business meeting and a closed briefing.
On February 9, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On February 11, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On February 23, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On February 25, 2016, the Full Committee held an open
hearing on ``World Wide Threats.''
On February 29, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On March 3, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed hearing.
On March 14, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On March 16, 2016, the ET Subcommittee held a closed
hearing.
On March 17, 2016, the NSA/Cyber Subcommittee held a closed
hearing.
On March 21, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On March 22, 2016, the Department of Defense Intelligence
and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee held a closed hearing.
On April 12, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On April 13, 2016, the Department of Defense Intelligence
and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee held a closed hearing.
On April 14, 2016, the CIA Subcommittee held a closed
hearing.
On April 18, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On April 21, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On April 26, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On April 29, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
business meeting.
On May 10, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On May 12, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed business
meeting and a closed briefing.
On May 16, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On May 19, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On May 23, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On May 26, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On June 7, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On June 9, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On June 13, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On June 15, 2016, the Department of Defense Intelligence
and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee held a closed briefing.
On June 16, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On June 21, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On June 22, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed hearing.
On June 23, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On June 23, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On July 5, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On July 6, 2016, the Department of Defense Intelligence and
Overhead Architecture Subcommittee held a closed hearing.
On July 7, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed briefing.
On July 11, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On July 12, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On July 14, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On July 15, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed business
meeting.
On September 6, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On September 9, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On September 12, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On September 14, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On September 15, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
business meeting.
On September 20, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On September 21, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On September 26, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On September 28, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On November 14, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On November 15, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
hearing.
On November 17, 2016, the Full Committee held an open
hearing on ``Intelligence Community Support to the Department
of Defense.''
On November 29, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On December 1, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
business meeting.
On December 5, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
briefing.
On December 6, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
On December 8, 2016, the Full Committee held a closed
roundtable.
[all]
