For Immediate Release

January 23, 2007

REP. DICKS NAMED TO INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT PANEL

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington Congressman Norm Dicks was appointed today to the new Select Intelligence Oversight Panel, created by the House this month to promote better oversight and information sharing of classified information among U.S. intelligence agencies.

             Rep. Dicks, vice-chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for an eight year term ending in 1999.  During his latter four years on that panel he was the top ranking Democratic member and in 1998 he co-chaired a special congressional investigation into possible transfer of classified U.S. technology information to China. 

            The 13-member panel was created in part because of a recommendation of the independent 9/11 Commission, which concluded that “The United States needs a strong, stable and capable congressional committee structure to give America's national intelligence agencies oversight, support and leaders.”  The Commission suggested combining intelligence authorization and appropriations responsibilities in Congress, and thus the new panel will include members of the Intelligence Committee as well as the Defense Appropriations subcommittee.

             According to the charter for the panel that was approved by the House on Jan. 9th , it has been established to “review and study on a continuing basis budget requests for and execution of intelligence activities; make recommendations to relevant subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations; and, on an annual basis, prepare a report to the Defense Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations containing budgetary and oversight observations and recommendations for use by such subcommittee in preparation of the classified annex to the bill making appropriations for the Department of Defense.”

             Rep. Dicks noted that the new oversight panel will also be able to utilize the Appropriations Committee's subpoena power to obtain intelligence-related information from the executive branch.

             Rep. Dicks said he believes the new structure – merging policy and spending oversight -- will “help to broaden the perspective within Congress and improve the supervision of the broad range of activities conducted by our intelligence community.”

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