Devin Nunes: “Passing an annual intelligence authorization bill is the most important tool Congress has to conduct effective oversight…”

“Passing an annual intelligence authorization bill is the most important tool Congress has to conduct effective oversight of the activities of the United States Government. Today, Ranking Member Schiff and I are bringing a fiscal year 2017 intelligence authorization bill to the floor for the second time this year. When enacted, it will mark the seventh consecutive Intelligence Authorization Act. In May, H.R. 5077 passed the House with a strong bipartisan vote. I am pleased to say that this bill, H.R. 6393, is likewise a bipartisan product that reflects the contributions of all of the committee's members. The bill contains provisions from H.R. 5077 that won wide bipartisan support in May and, after extensive negotiations with the Senate, incorporates numerous provisions from S. 3017, which was reported by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in June. Because most of the intelligence budget involves highly classified programs, the committee's schedule of authorizations and the bulk of the committee's direction is found in the classified annex to the bill. This classified annex has been available in HVC-304 for all Members to review since yesterday. At the unclassified level, I can report that the total funding authorized by H.R. 6393 balances fiscal discipline and national security.…”