SEPTEMBER 24 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 1987.-Ordered to be printed Mr. FORD, from the Committee on Rules and Administration, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. Res. 192] The Committee on Rules and Administration, having considered the S. Res. 192, reports favorably thereon with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and recommends that the Resolution be agreed to. Senate Resolution 192, reported by the Select Committee on Intelligence on April 22, 1987, without written report was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration on the same date. The purpose of the resolution as originally reported was to authorize a fund transfer from section 20(b) of S. Res. 80, 100th Congress, to supplement section 20(b) of S. Res. 353, 99th Congress, to cover an overrun in last years expenditures. On May 8, 1987, the Committee on Rules and Administration favorably reported S. Res. 210, an original resolution authorizing supplemental funds for five committees through February 29, 1988. Included as one of the provisions in S. Res. 210 was the fund transfer requested in Senate Resolution 192. S. Res. 210 has not been acted on and remains on the Senate Calendar (#118). Member of the Select Committee on Intelligence submitted the folOn September 14, 1987, the Chairman and Ranking Minority lowing letter for supplemental funding: Ranking Member, Committee on Rules and Administration, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. DEAR WENDELL AND TED: Pursuant to Senate Resolution 400, the responsibility of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is to provide effective oversight of Intelligence Community activities, including covert action programs. As testimony before the Special Iran/Contra Committee highlighted, there are several areas of the oversight process that require strengthening. We on the Intelligence Committee already have started this process and, in fact, have put in place a number of new procedures since January. Furthermore, we anticipate that the process will continue through the next several months as a result both of the work of the Special Committee and of hearings regarding oversight that the Intelligence Committee has announced for later this fall. There is one area in particular that the Committee believes requires action immediately. This is the need for an independent auditing capability. Since January, when we assumed leadership of the Committee, we have found the Intelligence Community to be generally cooperative in providing information about the funding and operation of its activities. But the fact remains that the Committee must depend solely on the Community to supply the information by which we are to oversee these activities and thereby assure not only our Senate colleagues, but also the American people that the requirements of the law and the stated objectives of these programs are being fulfilled. This situation, at best, has obvious inherent flaws and can leave doubts as to the ability of the Committee to thoroughly and independently perform its oversight function. Accordingly, the Committee has determined there is a need to create, as soon as possible, a professional independent auditing unit. This is necessary because the Senate does not now have such a capability with the requisite intelligence experience and clearances. This is a significant gap in the Senate's overall ability to monitor and oversee Intelligence Community activities. Therefore, we believe it essential in terms of security, jurisdiction, and responsibility that the Intelligence Committee move to fill this gap. In this regard, we should note that the House Intelligence Committee is also taking steps to strengthen its independent auditing capability. Specifically, it would be our plan to create a unit with two fulltime professional accountants/investigators and one support staff. The scope of activities to be audited would include all areas within the jurisdiction of this Committee as specified by Senate Resolution 400, as well as those related areas that are critical for effective intelligence oversight (e.g. communications security, embassy security, etc.). We envision that the team would be guided by an overall annual work plan approved by the full Committee, although provision would be made to accommodate rapidly arising needs as may be required. Assignments would have definite areas of inquiry and would have definite start and completion dates. Final reports would be prepared for each audit undertaken. We hope to move quickly and to begin hiring for the Intelligence Committee Audit Unit as soon as the necessary funds become available. In this regard, we have commenced preliminary inquiries regarding staff. It is our intention to put together a first-class team with the requisite auditing, investigative, and intelligence skills necessary for outstanding performance. Of course, as you can see, such an undertaking would require additional funds for the Intelligence Committee for the remainder of this fiscal year. We anticipate that the cost for the team for the balance of the fiscal year would be $56,250. Accordingly, we hereby request that the Rules Committee consider this letter as a request for a supplemental appropriation in that amount, with the hope that we would be able to perform this additional work. The Committee is mindful of the importance of this undertaking and the great care that will be required in implementing such a program. We believe, however, that if oversight is to be meaningful and effective it must be comprehensive and credible. It is in that spirit that we make this proposal. We look forward to your support and suggestions regarding this important initiative. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, DAVID L. BOREN, Chairman. WILLIAM S. COHEN, Vice Chairman. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: Independent audit unit proposed budget, Oct. 1, 1987 through Feb. 29, 1988 Proposed annual budget: Staff: Chief, Audit Unit. Senior Auditor. Secretary.. Total...... Budget requirement: Average monthly budget ($135,000÷12)..... Budget required Oct. 1, 1987 through Feb. 29, 1987 ($11,250×5 $65,000 50,000 20,000 135,000 11,250 56,250 In view of the expressed need to establish an internal audit section within the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Rules and Administration determined it should again consider S. Res. 192, amend it to include the requested funds for the new audit section, and report it favorably to the Senate. The net effect of the Resolution, as amended would be to increase S. Res. 80 funds by $36,250 and S. Res. 353 funds by $20,000. The Committee urges the Senate to pass the Resolution, as amended. PERMITTING THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY, TO ACCEPT GIFTS OF MONEY FOR THE PURCHASE OF WORKS OF FINE ART FOR THE CAPITOL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES SEPTEMBER 24 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 1987.-Ordered to be printed Mr. FORD, from the Committee on Rules and Administration, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H.R. 60] The Committee on Rules and Administration, to which was referred the bill (H.R. 60) to permit the Architect of the Capitol, under the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, to accept gifts of money for the purchase of works of fine art for the Capitol, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and an amendment to the title and recommends that the bill as amended do pass. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE BILL H.R. 60 was introduced by Representative Charles E. Bennett in January, 1987, and with an amendment in the nature of a substitute was reported by the House Committee on House Administration on June 24, 1987, and passed by the House on July 21, 1987. The amendment adopted by the Committee, and recommended to the Senate, is a technical one suggested by the Department of the Treasury. That amendment changes the words "Treasurer of the United States" on line 2 of page 2 in Section 1 of the bill to "Department of the Treasury", for purposes of designating the payee of checks authorized by the bill. The purpose of the bill is to authorize the Architect of the Capitol to accept on behalf of the Congress, and under the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, gifts of money with which to purchase works of fine art for the Capitol. Expenditures of such funds could only be made with the prior approval of the Joint Committee on the Library, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House, and the Senate Majority |