Bob Kerrey: “while I believe this bill is the best that can be achieved during this period of tight budgets and a changing world…”

“while I believe this bill is the best that can be achieved during this period of tight budgets and a changing world, there is one part of it that makes me uneasy. All of us were presented earlier this week with media stories that the National Reconnaissance Office once again has secretly kept large sums of money stashed away. Supposedly, DOD, CIA, and the Congress didn't know anything about $1 billion that had been "hoarded" away in carry-forward accounts. The committee has already held a hearing on this subject. Based on the information presented and on the tough questions asked by committee members, several things are quite clear. One, this is not a secret "slush" fund that no one knew anything about. In fact, these were funds maintained in accordance with the appropriate DOD manual. Moreover, DOD has known about the account since at least 1989 when the DOD Inspector General audited the NRO and agreed with the NRO's proposal on the size and method of accounting for these funds. Second, the Committee has been overseeing and not overlooking the NRO's budget.”