Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON DC Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today joined U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) and Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) in introducing bipartisan legislation that increases oversight of the National Security Agency. The NSA Internal Watchdog Act (H.R. 4533) creates a Presidentially-appointed Senate-confirmed Inspector General (IG) for the agency placing a powerful and independent watchdog inside the NSA who will be accountable to Congress and to the American people. The bill helps assure the public that their privacy is protected while maintaining the tools our intelligence and law enforcement agencies need to keep America secure.
Rep. Smith: Our intelligence community has a responsibility not only to protect our national security but also to respect our civil liberties. This bill enhances the role of the NSAInspector General and guarantees there is an independent and powerful watchdog that will ensure the activities of the intelligence community are both lawful and Constitutional. Only with meaningful and independent oversight can Americans be assured that their rights and freedoms are not ignored in the name of national security."
Under H.R. 4533 the new NSA IG will be able to:
- Ensure all NSA programs and activities comply with our laws and Constitution.
- Recommend new NSA policies to protect our civil rights and civil liberties.
- Undertake immediately after Senate confirmation a comprehensive review of the programs involved in the Snowden leaks including the NSAs compliance or non-compliance with FISA court orders.
- Exercise subpoena power to require contractors and former NSA employees to give testimony in IG investigations a power that no IG other than the Department of Defense IG currently has.
- Prevent personal snooping or any other misuses of NSA programs by rogue employees and contractors such as investigating ex-spouses.
- Recommend improvements to whistleblower reporting security clearance and background check procedures.
- Challenge through Congress any attempted prohibition of an IG audit or investigation due to alleged national security grounds.
http://lamarsmith.house.gov
