Daily Whipline
July 9, 2009
Whipline
| House Meets At... | Votes Predicted At... |
| 10:00 a.m For Legislative Business Ten "One-Minutes" Per Side |
Last Vote: Evening |
| Any anticipated Member absences for votes this week should be reported to the Office of the Majority Whip at 226-3210 | |
Floor Schedule and Procedure
- Complete Consideration of H.R. 2997 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (Rep. DeLauro - Appropriations): Completion of consideration on the bill will proceed as follows:
- Postponed votes on amendments to the bill.
- Possible debate and vote on Republican motion to recommit the bill.
- Vote on final passage of the bill. Members are urged to VOTE YES.
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- One hour of debate on the rule.
- Possible vote on a Democratic Motion ordering the previous question. Members are urged to vote yes.
- Vote on adoption of the rule. Members are urged to vote yes.
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H.R. 3081 - Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2010 (Rep. Lowey - Appropriations): Pursuant to H.Res. 617, general debate on the bill will be managed by Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Dave Obey or his designee. Consideration on the bill will proceed as follows:
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One hour of general debate on the bill.
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Debate and possible votes on amendments to the bill.
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Possible debate and vote on Republican motion to recommit the bill.
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Vote on final passage of the bill. Members are urged to VOTE YES.
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Possible Consideration of H. Res. 618 - Rule to provide for consideration of H.R. 2701 - Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Rep. Hastings (FL) - Rules): The structured rule provides for one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution. The rule provides that the amendments made in order may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule provides one motion to recommit the bill with or without instructions. The rule provides for the reporting to the House of the amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, and the ordering of the previous question on the bill and amendments except one motion to recommit with or without instructions. The rule provides that the Chair may entertain a motion that the Committee rise only if offered by the chair of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence or his designee. The rule also provides that the Chair may not entertain a motion to strike out the enacting words of the bill. Finally, the rule provides that during consideration of H.R. 2701, the Chair may reduce to two minutes the minimum time for electronic voting. Debate on the rule will be managed by Rep. Alcee Hastings, and consideration will proceed as follows:
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One hour of debate on the rule.
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Possible vote on a Democratic Motion ordering the previous question. Members are urged to vote yes.
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Vote on adoption of the rule. Members are urged to vote yes.
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Possible Consideration of H.R. 2701 - Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Rep. Reyes - Intelligence): Pursuant to H.Res. 618, general debate on the bill will be managed by Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Silvestre Reyes. Consideration on the bill will proceed as follows:
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One hour of general debate on the bill.
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Debate and possible votes on amendments to the bill.
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Possible debate and vote on Republican motion to recommit the bill.
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Vote on final passage of the bill. Members are urged to VOTE YES.
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- Postponed Suspension Votes:
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H.Con.Res. 127 - Recognizing the significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month (Rep. Lee (CA) - Oversight and Government Reform)
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H.Con.Res. 131 - Directing the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the National Motto of "In God We Trust" in the Capitol Visitor Center (Rep. Lungren - House Administration)
Summary of H.R. 2997 - making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes
BILL TOTAL
2009 Enacted: $20.602 billion
President's Request: $22.979 billion
2010 Bill: $22.900 billion
KEY INVESTMENTS
PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH
Food and Drug Administration: $2.995 billion, the same as the President's request and $373 million over 2009, to help FDA improve the safety of domestic and imported food and medical products.
Food Safety and Inspection Service: $1.018 billion, the same as the President's request and $47 million over 2009, for inspection of meat, poultry and egg products, helping to ensure the safety of these products.
HELPING THOSE HIT HARDEST BY THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): $7.541 billion, $236 million below the President's request and $681 million above 2009, to provide proper nutrition to mothers and their children. The bill provides funding to help up to an additional 700,000 women, infants, and children, brining WIC participation to over ten million people. It also sets aside $125 million for the upcoming WIC reauthorization, including a number of program improvements such as: increasing fruit and vegetable vouchers, supporting management information systems, implementing the electronic benefit transfer system, and expanding breast feeding peer counseling program.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program: $180 million, $17 million over the President's request and $19.6 million over 2009, to provide nutritious food to over a half million low-income women, infants, children, and elderly citizens struggling with rising food costs. In order to ensure that more families receive the support they need during this period of economic stress, the bill also provides funding to expand this critical assistance in 32 current states and in 6 new states with USDA-approved feeding plans. These new states are: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Delaware, Utah, New Jersey, Georgia.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): $61.352 billion, the same as the President's request and $7.383 billion over 2009. Funding is included for an initiative to increase elderly participation. It has been estimated that only 30 percent of eligible seniors participate in SNAP.
International Food Aid (P.L. 480 Title II and McGovern-Dole): $1.69 billion, as requested and $464 million above 2009, for the P.L. 480 Title II Grants Program to meet emergency and nonemergency humanitarian food needs in countries stricken with natural disasters and political strife. And $199.5 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, the same as requested and $99.5 million above 2009, to support education, child development, and food security for some of the world's poorest children.
REINVESTING IN RURAL AMERICA
Rural Development: $2.825 billion, $191 million below the President's request and $92 million above 2009, for USDA programs important to rural communities including rural housing, water projects, community facilities and economic development efforts. These programs not only sustain our rural communities, but also create new opportunities for growth and development in the nation's small town economies. The bill builds on the strong base provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and makes substantial investments in rural communities. The bill provides funding for programs that help house families ($8.7 billion), invest in rural businesses ($1.2 billion), and support new community facility infrastructure ($542 million for community facilities, and $9.3 billion for the rural utilities programs).
Animal and Plant Health: $886 million, $8.6 million above the President's request and $4.3 million above 2009, to fund programs that protect American agriculture against animal and plant diseases.
Agricultural Research: $1.19 billion, $37 million above the President's request and $3 million above 2009, for the Agricultural Research Service and $1.253 billion, $87 million above the President's request and $31 million above 2009, for the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (formerly called CSREES) for important agricultural research.
Farm Service Agency: $67.3 million, as requested, to fully fund the 2010 costs to continue modernizing the Farm Service Agency's information technology networks and databases in order to provide more effective and secure service for the agency's customers.
CONSERVATION
Conservation Programs: $980.3 million, $72.9 million above the President's request and $11.9 million above 2009, for the Natural Resources Conservation Service to improve service in the field, deliver conservation to protect the environment, and upgrade aging dams at risk of catastrophic failure. The bill restores cuts to valuable conservation programs, including the Resource Conservation and Development Program and the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program. Importantly, the bill rejects $267 million in cuts to priority farm bill conservation programs, including the Wetlands Reserve Program, Farmland Protection Program, and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.
OVERSIGHT AND ENFORCEMENT
Commodity Futures Trading Commission: $160.6 million, as requested, and $14.6 million above 2009, to enhance oversight of the commodity futures markets. The increased resources will provide for additional staff and improved technology to better secure the markets from improper speculation.
Livestock Competition: $23.7 million, as requested and $1.3 million above 2009, to assure fair competition and trade practices, safeguard farmers and ranchers, and to protect consumers and members of the livestock, meat, and poultry industries from unfair, deceptive, discriminatory and monopolistic practices. These funds provide staff to strengthen enforcement, investigative and compliance activities.
SIGNIFICANT CUTS
National Animal Identification: provides no funding for the National Animal Identification System. After receiving $142 million in funding since fiscal year 2004, the Department has yet to put into operation an effective system that would provide needed animal health and livestock market benefits. USDA is currently conducting a public listening tour around the country for several months to hear from stakeholders. Until USDA finishes it's listening sessions and provides details as to how it will implement an effective ID system, continued investments into the current system are unwarranted.
OTHER IMPORTANT POLICY ITEMS
Imported Poultry Products from China: Prohibits USDA from moving forward with a rule to allow potentially unsafe poultry products from China into the U.S.
Country of Origin Labeling (COOL): Fully funds the costs to continue overseeing country of origin labeling for fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and other products.
Inspection Pilot Program: Prohibits FSIS from implementing a pilot program to inspect certain facilities using a risk-based model until FSIS implements changes recommended by the USDA Inspector General.
Amendments to H.R. 2997 - making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes
H.Res. 609 makes in order the following amendment which is listed in part A of the Rules Committee report:
- DeLauro (Manager's): Appropriates the tobacco fees authorized in recent tobacco bill to start up the new tobacco control program; provides increases of $2 million for the Agricultural Research Service and $3 million for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture; increases funding for the Office of Inspector General by $500,000; increases funding for the Higher Education Multicultural Scholars program to $1.5 million; provides $2 million for the Methamphetamine Inhibitor Grant Program authorized in the Farm Bill; and prohibits first class travel by employees funded in the bill if it violates existing rules. Fully offset by small reductions to administrative programs.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE YES. - Brady: Reduces funding for the Office of the Chief Economist by $50,000 and increases funding for the Economic Research Service by $50,000. While the sponsor may claim the amendment is aimed at research on trade agreements, the funding can in fact be used for any economic research purpose.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE YES - Capito: Reduces funding for the Office of the Chief Information Officer by $10,038,000 and increases funding for rural water and waste grants, loans and loan guarantees by $10,038,000. There is heavy demand across rural areas for water and waste resources.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE YES. - Broun: Reduces funding for FDA Salaries and Expenses by $373 million. This amendment would make it impossible for FDA to take important steps forward in protecting the safety of our food, drugs and medical devices, including increases in staffing and in the number of inspections of domestic and imported products; updating its labs; and research to lead to quicker ways of detecting contamination of foods.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO. - Blackburn: Reduces overall spending in the bill by 5 percent or $1.145 billion. This would put in jeopardy important funding to increase participation in the WIC program, improve the effectiveness of the FDA and provide development and conservation benefits to rural America.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO. - Hensarling #6: : Eliminates $ 200,000 in project funding for National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy project, in the Kiski Basin in Pennsylvania. Rep. Murtha requested this project.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO. - Campbell #2: Eliminates $235,000 in project funding for specialty crops research in Indiana. Rep. Ellsworth requested this project.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO. - Flake #9: Eliminates $638,000 in project funding for foundry sand by-products utilization research in Maryland. Rep. Hoyer requested this project.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO. - Flake #4: Eliminates $1,000,000 in project funding for the Agriculture Energy Innovation Center in Georgia. Rep. Kingston requested this project.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO. - Flake #12: Eliminates $1,037,000 in project funding for multi-state potato research in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Reps. Doc Hastings, Larsen, McMorris Rodgers, Simpson, Walden, and Wu requested this project.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO. - Kingston: Prohibits funding for broadband loans and loan guarantees in this bill, which are dedicated to rural areas. Expanding broadband service connects rural areas to the global community, helps to raise the standard of living and generates economic growth.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO.
Summary of H.R. 3081 - Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2010
Bill Total
2009 Enacted including Supplemental Funding: $50.0 billion
President's Request: $52.044 billion
Committee Mark: $48.843 billion
KEY INVESTMENTS
State Department and USAID Operations, Staff and Security:
- Diplomatic and Consular Programs: $8.2 billion, $731 million below the President's request and $1.2 billion above 2009, for diplomatic operations and to hire over 1000 new Foreign Service staff positions.
- Operating Expenses for USAID: $1.39 billion, $50 million below the President's request and $330 million above 2009, to allow USAID to hire 300 additional Foreign Service Officers as part of the Development Leadership Initiative.
Assistance to Frontline States of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq
- $2.695 billion in assistance for Afghanistan, which is $81.9 million below the President's request and $7 million above 2009 enacted level including supplemental appropriations.
- $1.519 billion in assistance for Pakistan which is $63 million below the President's request and $31.5 million below the 2009 enacted level including supplemental appropriations.
- $484.3 million for Iraq, which is $15.7 million below the President's request, and $114.7 million below the 2009 enacted level including supplemental appropriations
Global Health: $7.784 billion, $190 million above the President's request and $670 million above 2009, to strengthen the global public health infrastructure and surveillance network in order to save lives overseas and to protect the health of Americans.
- HIV/AIDS: $5.75 billion, $150 million above the President's request and $250 million above 2009, for international HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programs including $750 million for multilateral programs through the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
- Global Health and Child Survival: $2.38 billion, which when combined with $50 million for global pandemic programs in the FY2009 supplemental is $89 million above the President's request and $470 million above 2009, for other global health programs including increases above the 2009 level of nearly $33 million for maternal and child health programs, $202.5 million to fight malaria, $90 million to fight tuberculosis, and $100 million for international family planning.
Development Assistance: $2.465 billion, $268 million below the President's request and $665 million above 2009 for agricultural development, climate change, democracy, and education, in countries that face a complex range of long-term development challenges.
Agriculture and Food Security Programs: $1 billion, $363 million below the President's request and $550 million above 2009 to provide agricultural assistance and improve food security.
Basic Education: $1 billion, $19 million above the President's request and $300 million above 2009, to increase access to quality education and provide alternatives to madrassas.
Improving Access to Safe Drinking Water: $310 million, $137 million above the President's request and $10 million above 2009, for safe water programs, including help to increase access to safe drinking water (such as pumps and wells); build water systems; and expand safe hygiene programs.
Energy and the Environment: $1.2 billion, $354 million below the President's request and $643 million above 2009 for bilateral and multilateral assistance to promote clean energy, environment, biodiversity and climate change programs worldwide, including funding for the Global Environmental Facility, the Clean Technology Fund and the Strategic Climate Fund to work with developing nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve parks, protect wildlife, and mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Humanitarian Assistance:
- Refugee Assistance: $1.55 billion, same as the President's request and $156 million below 2009 to help displaced people around the world with food, water, shelter and other basic needs.
- Disaster Assistance: $830 million, $50 million below the President's request and $10 million above FY2009, to avert famines and provide life-saving assistance during natural disasters and for internally displaced people in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and elsewhere around the world.
Middle East Security Assistance: $2.22 billion for Israel which combined with the $555 million of forward funding in the FY2009 supplemental is the same as the $2.775 billion in the President's request and consistent with the second year of the 10-year Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Israel; $1.29 billion in economic and security assistance for Egypt, which when combined with the $260 million in forward funding in the 2009 supplemental is the same as the President's request; $513 million in economic and security assistance for Jordan, which when combined with the $150 million in forward funding in the 2009 supplemental is the same as the President's request.
Counternarcotics Programs: $318.8 million for Mexico and Central American, which when combined with $254 million in forward funding for Mexico in the 2009 supplemental, is the same as the President's request for the Merida program and $167.8 million above 2009 Merida and bi-lateral programs for counter-narcotics and law enforcement programs in Mexico and Central America. In addition, the bill includes $37 million for a new Caribbean Basin Security Initiative and $520 million for counternarcotics and alternative livelihoods assistance for Colombia, $7 million above the President's request and $25 million below 2009.
Peacekeeping Activities
- UN Peacekeeping Missions: $2.1 billion, $135 million below the President's request and $263.5 million below 2009, for Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities. These funds support UN peacekeeping missions around the world including in Darfur, Congo, Liberia, Haiti, and Lebanon. The bill cuts funding for Somalia which is provided under the voluntary Peacekeeping Operations account.
- Voluntary Peacekeeping Operations: $331 million, $35 million above the President's request and $199 below 2009, for Peacekeeping Operations, to advance international support for voluntary multi-national peacekeeping and stabilization efforts, including support for international missions not supported by the UN but of particular interest to the United States.
Educational and Cultural Exchanges: $600 million, $33 million below the President's request and $62 million above 2009, to fund educational, cultural and professional exchange programs worldwide.
Broadcasting: $746 million, $1 million above the President's request and $31 million above 2009, for broadcasting programs critical to the nation's overall public diplomacy efforts.
Peace Corps: $450 million, $76.56 million above the President's request and $110 million above 2009, for the program which currently has approximately 7,300 volunteers serving in 74 countries. The increase would accelerate the President's pledge to expand the Peace Corps.
Millennium Challenge Corporation: $1.4 billion, $25 million below the President's request and $525 million above 2009 for bilateral assistance to countries that meet certain economic and governance criteria.
OTHER IMPORTANT POLICY ITEMS
Iran*: The bill includes language on Iran that requires a report on the status and progress of diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons; continues a reporting requirement on bilateral and multilateral sanctions against Iran; and prevents the Export-Import Bank of the United States from providing credit, insurance, or guarantees to any project controlled by any energy producers or refiners that contribute significantly to Iran's refined petroleum resources.
Climate Change and Intellectual Property Rights*: The bill includes a new provision that directs the Secretary of State to report on actions taken to protect intellectual property rights during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations prior to the obligation of funds for the Clean Technology Fund and the Special Climate Fund.
International Monetary Fund*: The bill includes a new provision that requires the United States Executive Director to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose the provision of hard currency by the Fund to any country found to be a government that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism; sunsets the authorization for the New Arrangements to Borrow program after five years; sets a 20% limitation on United States participation in the New Arrangements to Borrow program; and includes a reporting requirement on the use of New Arrangements to Borrow funds.
Limitation on Countries Receiving Detainees*: The bill includes a limitation on funds to any country, including a state with a compact of free association with the United States, unless 5 days prior to the implementation of an agreement to accept transfer of individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba the terms of the agreement are transmitted in writing to the Committees on Appropriations.
Amendments to H.R. 3081 - Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2010
- Lowey (Manager's): would increase funding for safe water and sanitation programs ($25 million); democracy programs ($10 million); implementation of the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality ($300,000); maternal health programs ($10 million); and oversight of Department of State and USAID programs ($8 million). These additions would be offset by reductions to the Department of State Capital Investment Fund and USAID's Capital Investment Fund. The amendment would also restrict Foreign Military Financing Program funding for Sri Lanka and restrict first-class travel by employees of agencies funded by this Act.
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE YES. - Broun: imposes an across-the-board cut of 5 percent to diplomacy and foreign assistance programs which are vital to our national security. The reduction would cut assistance for Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq as well as allies like Israel and important humanitarian and development programs.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO. - Buyer: would reduce funding for Diplomatic and Consular activities by $1.2 billion; cut operating expenses for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by $330 million; and cut $670 million for global health and child survival. The reductions weaken the State Department and USAID's capacity to conduct foreign policy and protect our national security. Additionally the cut to global health would devastate our HIV/AIDS programs and undermine efforts to prevent a global flu pandemic.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO. - Flake: would reduce funding for Educational and Cultural Exchange programs by $8 million and prohibit one-time special educational grants. This reduction would strip a central component of our public diplomacy efforts to counter the threat posed by terrorist and global extremism.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO. - Granger: prohibits funds in the bill from being used by the Secretary of Treasury in contravention of Congressional intent related to the recent IMF provisions carried in the Supplemental.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE YES. - Lewis (CA): reduces by $505.9 million the funds for international financial institutions, preventing us from meeting our commitments to the World Bank and severely constraining our support for international debt relief. The cut would also undermine international food security and environmental programs.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO. - Stearns: would eliminate $76.56 million in funding for the Peace Corps. This cut would undermine efforts to expand the Peace Corps.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey recommends that Members VOTE NO. - Weiner: modifies a provision prohibiting assistance to Saudi Arabia by striking language that allows assistance to be provided if the President certifies that Saudi Arabia is fully cooperating with efforts to combat international terrorism.
(10 minutes)
Chairman Obey makes no vote recommendation.
Summary of H.R. 2701 - Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
***descriptive summaries and Chairman Reyes' vote recommendations for any amendments on which recorded votes are ordered will be provided to Members in the VoteLine on the Floor***
The annual Intelligence Authorization Act provides policy guidance and sets classified funding levels for the intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the 16 agencies of the Intelligence Community. H.R. 2701 was reported favorably by the Committee on voice vote.
Providing Critical Tools and Authorities to the Intelligence Community
- Fully authorizes the President's budget request for Intelligence Community programs and operations.
- Substantially increases funding for human intelligence collection and counterintelligence activities, vital tools that have been under-resourced in recent years.
- Authorizes essential funding in support of U.S. efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, along with additional funds to address emerging issues in Africa, Latin America, and elsewhere.
Improving Oversight of the Intelligence Community
- Eliminates the President's statutory authority to limit briefings on covert actions to the so-called Gang of Eight, a process that has been used in recent years to limit Congress' ability to do oversight of critical intelligence programs.
- Requires that the President provide covert action briefings to the entire intelligence committee membership, unless the Committee adopts rules that allow for more limited briefings.
- Requires that the President provide legal opinions concerning covert actions to the intelligence committees.
- Creates a statutory and independent Intelligence Community-wide Inspector General, with responsibility for identifying problems in areas within the jurisdiction of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) or in the interaction between Intelligence Community agencies.
- Requires that GAO personnel (with appropriate clearances) be given access to relevant information held by the Intelligence Community when conducting an analysis, evaluation, or investigation at the request of the House or Senate intelligence committees.
- Requires that the CIA Inspector General conduct an audit of each covert action at least once every 3 years.
Improving Language Capabilities
- Adds funds for language programs and requires reports on language capabilities to improve congressional oversight of a long-time problem area.
- Authorizes an expansion of the Boren Scholars program to help Intelligence Community personnel develop skills in low-density African languages.
- Makes permanent the Pat Roberts Intelligence Scholars Program, which provides stipends to college students studying critical languages and other subjects important to the Intelligence Community.
Ensuring a Diverse and Robust Workforce
- Requires that the DNI submit a plan to improve diversity within each element of the Intelligence Community.
- Creates an ombudsman to help address delays in granting of security clearances and requires a series of reports on the security clearance system, which has struggled to process potential Intelligence Community personnel in a timely and efficient manner.
Fighting Proliferation
- Requires semi-annual reports on the nuclear intentions and capabilities of Iran, Syria, and North Korea.
- Requires a report on the illicit trade of nuclear and radiological material and equipment.
Enhancing Cyber security Efforts
- Makes a significant investment in foundational cyber security capabilities in furtherance of the President's comprehensive cyber security strategy.
- Requires a National Intelligence Estimate or National Intelligence Assessment on the risks to national security resulting from the presence of defective or deliberately manipulated counterfeit electronic components in the global supply chain.
Increasing Oversight of Detainee Policy
- Prohibits private contractors from conducting interrogations of detainees in CIA custody and requires that the interrogation of any detainee in CIA custody be videotaped.
- Requires that the DNI conduct a comprehensive study on the state of research, analysis, and training in interrogation and debriefing practices.
- Requires the release of unclassified summaries of intelligence relating to the recidivism of detainees released from Guantanamo Bay and of intelligence relating to threats posed by Uighur detainees held or formerly held at Guantanamo Bay.
- Includes provisions mirroring language recently included in the FY10 National Defense Authorization Act that prohibit the release or transfer of any individual held at Guantanamo Bay to the United States until the President provides a plan for dealing with these detainees and mitigating any possible risk.
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Quote of the Day "Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate." - John F. Kennedy |
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