Intel Update
Written by George Meyers
GIF 2011 Volume 9: Issue: 8 (November/December)
(Editor’s Note: The following is an update on the status of some of the key intelligence-related issues and pieces of legislation currently under consideration in the nation’s capital. The information was compiled by George Meyers of Cassidy & Associates.)
Blind Spots
Intelligence agencies are bracing for about $25 billion in budget cuts over the next 10 years, and top officials are saying this will increase security risks. “We’re going to have less capability in 10 years than we have today,” said Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Intelligence officials and policymakers will have to decide whether to pay less attention to some areas so increased emphasis can be placed on other areas. The days of “worldwide emphasis” are over.
Federal Budget
Officials at DoD have announced that a substantial cut in defense spending could increase national unemployment by as much as 1 percent. Given the defense industry is one of the largest employers in the nation, a substantial hit to its funding would be devastating in terms of job loss. The 2012 election will, in all likelihood, revolve around the economy and job creation. Therefore, neither Republicans nor Democrats would like to see a significant automatic cut made to the defense industry. Neither party wants to be blamed for the subsequent loss of jobs and spike in unemployment.
Multiple Commitees Working on Cyber
In an effort to assist the government in crafting a cyber-policy, there are several committees attempting to pass cyber-legislation: Armed Services, Energy and Natural Resources, Foreign Relations, Intelligence, Judiciary, Rules and Administration, and Commerce. Talks are ongoing, and could take months to go through Congress.
Bill: H.R. 1892
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.)
Committee: Awaiting Senate action
Description: Intelligence authorization bill
Bill: S. 413
Sponsor: Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.)
Committee: Senate Homeland Security
Description: Amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and other laws to enhance the security and resiliency of the cyber and communications infrastructure of the United States
Bill: H.R. 47
Sponsor: Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.)
Committee: House Intelligence
Description: Provide a civil penalty for certain misrepresentations made to Congress, and for other purposes
Bill: H.R. 67
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.)
Committee: House Judiciary; House Intelligence
Description: Extend expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 until February 29, 2012
Bill: H.R. 109
Sponsor: Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.)
Committee: House Constitution
Description: Establish a national commission on presidential war powers and civil liberties
Bill: H.R. 174
Sponsor: Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.)
Committee: House Oversight and Government Reform escription: Enhance homeland security, including domestic preparedness and collective response to terrorism, by amending the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Cybersecurity Compliance Division
Bill: H.R. 514
Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.)
Committee: House Homeland Security
Description: Extend expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 relating to access to business records, individual terrorists as agents of foreign powers, and roving wiretaps until December 8, 2011
Bill: H.R. 703
Sponsor: Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.)
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: Amend section 798 of title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for disclosure of classified information related to certain intelligence activities of the United States, and for other purposes
Bill: H.R. 2096
Sponsor: Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas)
Committee: House Science, Space & Technology
Description: Advance cybersecurity research, development, and technical standards, and for other purposes
Bill: S. 1469
Sponsor: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)
Committee: Senate Foreign Relations
Description: Require reporting on the capacity of foreign countries to combat cyber-crime, to develop action plans to improve the capacity of certain countries to combat cyber-crime, and for other purposes
Bill: S. 1152
Sponsor: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.)
Committee: Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation
Description: Advance cybersecurity research, development, and technical standards, and for other purposes
Bill: S. 1159
Sponsor: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)
Committee: Senate Armed Services
Description: Require a study on the recruitment, retention, and development of cyberspace experts
Bill: S. 8
Sponsor: Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.)
Committee: Senate Foreign Relations
Description: Build a comprehensive strategy to confront the nuclear threat from Iran and North Korea; enhance U.S. tools for pursuing key national security interests; and avert and respond to catastrophic cyber incidents.
Bill: S. 372
Sponsor: Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.)
Committee: House Commerce, Science & Transportation
Description: Reduce the ability of terrorists, spies, criminals, and other malicious actors to compromise, disrupt, damage, and destroy computer networks, critical infrastructure, and key resources, and for other purposes ♦
