Edolphus Towns: “As Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I support the amendment offered by Ms. Eshoo because it…”

“As Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I support the amendment offered by Ms. Eshoo because it will strengthen government accountability and enhance critical oversight of the intelligence community. The amendment provides necessary clarification regarding the authority of the General Accountability Office, GAO, to receive information from the intelligence community. Congress relies on the GAO as a force multiplier in carrying out the investigative and oversight functions vested in the Legislative Branch. The GAO helps inform the Congress and all Executive agencies about areas and programs within the federal government that are performing well, and those that need to be improved or are vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse. This amendment will allow GAO to carry out these vital functions without unwarranted interference from intelligence community agencies. As Acting Comptroller General Gene Dodaro previously noted, this authority does not represent an overhaul of existing oversight mechanisms for the intelligence community.”