United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

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The United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (sometimes referred to as SSCI) is dedicated to overseeing the United States Intelligence Community—the agencies and bureaus of the Federal government of the United States who provide information and analysis for leaders of the executive and legislative branches. The committee was established in 1975 by the 94th Congress.

As part of its oversight responsibilities, the Committee performs an annual review of the intelligence budget submitted by the President and prepares legislation authorizing appropriations for the various civilian and military agencies and departments comprising the Intelligence Community. These entities include the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, as well as the intelligence-related components of Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of the Treasury, and Department of Energy. The Committee makes recommendations to the Senate Armed Services Committee on authorizations for the intelligence-related components of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marine Corps. The Committee also conducts periodic investigations, audits, and inspections of intelligence activities and programs.

History

The Select Committee on Intelligence was preceded by the Church Committee (1975). Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) became the first chairman of the committee when it was established during the 94th Congress. He kept the chairmanship through the 96th Congress. Senators who have served as chair since Inouye have included Birch Bayh, Barry Goldwater, David L. Boren, Arlen Specter, Richard Shelby, Bob Graham, and Pat Roberts.

Former Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet was staff director of the committee when David Boren of Oklahoma was its chairman. The committee was the center of much controversy and contentiousness during the run-up to the war in Iraq in 2002 and 2003, when chairmanship of the committee changed hands following the November, 2002 election. Among the committee staff members at that time were Pete Dorn, Jim Hensler and Steven Cash.

Members, 110th Congress

Majority party (Dem.) State John D. Rockefeller IV, Chairman West Virginia Dianne Feinstein California Ron Wyden Oregon Evan Bayh Indiana Barbara Mikulski Maryland Russ Feingold Wisconsin Bill Nelson Florida Sheldon Whitehouse Rhode Island

Minority party (Rep.) State Kit Bond, Vice Chairman Missouri John Warner Virginia Chuck Hagel Nebraska Saxby Chambliss Georgia Orrin Hatch Utah Olympia Snowe Maine Richard Burr North Carolina

Ex-Officio Members

Office		Officer	Party	State	Senate Majority Leader	Harry Reid	Democrat	Nevada	Senate Minority Leader	Mitch McConnell	Republican	Kentucky	Armed Services Committee Chairman	Carl Levin	Democrat	Michigan	Armed Services Committee Ranking Member	John McCain	Republican	Arizona

Chairmen

• Daniel Inouye (D-HI), 1975-1979
• Birch Bayh (D-IN), 1979-1981
• Barry Goldwater (R-AZ), 1981-1985
• David Durenberger (R-MN), 1985-1987
• David Boren (D-OK), 1987-1995
• Arlen Specter (R-PA), 1995-1997
• Richard Shelby (R-AL), 1997-2001
• Bob Graham (D-FL), 2001
• Richard Shelby (R-AL), 2001
• Bob Graham (D-FL), 2001-2003
• Pat Roberts (R-KS), 2003-2007
• Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), since 2007

External links

• U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Official Website

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Last updated on Friday February 22, 2008 at 11:19:23 PST (GMT -0800)
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