Anna G. Eshoo was appointed to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in January 2003 and chairs the Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management. The new subcommittee focuses on policies and management challenges affecting all 16 agencies that comprise the U.S. Intelligence Community.

Since her appointment, Eshoo has worked to modernize our intelligence-gathering capability and to improve Congress’ ability to conduct meaningful oversight of these programs.

In 2004, Eshoo helped secure passage of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the first major overhaul of the Intelligence Community since the enactment of the National Security Act of 1947. The law, which drew extensively from the expert recommendations of the bipartisan National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission, established the office of the Director of National Intelligence to oversee our nation’s intelligence efforts, and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) to coordinate and unify counterterrorism intelligence planning.
 
In 2005, as the Ranking Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence, Eshoo joined in introducing the Lawful Intelligence and Surveillance of Terrorists in an Emergency by NSA (LISTEN) Act. The bill requires any attempt to eavesdrop on Americans or collect their telephone or e-mail records be conducted in accordance with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) or Title III of the criminal code. It also streamlines the government’s ability to conduct surveillance on potential terrorists by providing additional tools to expedite emergency warrant applications, and authorizes funds to incorporate standardization, electronic filing and streamlined review procedures at the National Security Agency and Department of Justice.

Eshoo has served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee since 1995 and serves on two subcommittees, Health and Telecommunications. Throughout her career in Congress, Eshoo has championed legislation to protect consumers, protect the environment, bolster American competitiveness and innovation, and expand access to health care for families and children.

Eshoo also co-chairs the Congressional E-911 Caucus, the House Medical Technology Caucus and the Congressional Public Broadcasting Caucus.
 Eshoo was first sworn in to the House of Representatives in January 1993. She represents California’s 14th District in the heart of Silicon Valley and is recognized for her mastery of details on technology issues. Her bill authorizing electronic signatures brought commerce into the digital age and is the model for digital signatures by the European Union. In the 109th Congress, Eshoo co-authored successful legislation creating the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to speed the development of drugs and vaccines to protect our citizens against pandemic illness and attacks using chemical, biological and radioactive weapons.

Eshoo’s public service career began in 1980 when she became the first woman to chair the San Mateo County Democratic Party. In 1981, she was Chief of Staff for California Assembly Speaker Leo McCarthy, and a year later was elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, becoming President of the Board in 1986.