Jay Rockefeller: “strengthening the two congressional Intelligence Committees was a fundamental part of the 9/11 Commission…”

“strengthening the two congressional Intelligence Committees was a fundamental part of the 9/11 Commission recommendations for improving congressional oversight. This is more of that. They made many recommendations, most of which were included in whole or in part in our resolution. One area where the Commission did not make a specific recommendation but which is very important was the question of shared jurisdiction between the Intelligence Committee and other committees, specifically the Armed Services Committee. Under the current structure, other committees have the automatic right to receive sequential referral of any legislation reported by the Intelligence Committee if it touches on their jurisdiction. And the Intelligence Committee enjoys a reciprocal right of referral. In practice, this authority has been exercised hardly at all--very rarely, infrequently--at least by the Intelligence Committee, but it has become a bit of an annual routine for the Armed Services Committee to seek sequential referral of the intelligence authorization bill. This practice is based upon legitimate interests on the part of the Armed Services Committee. But the system has worked to the detriment of the Intelligence Committee and effective oversight.”