Legislative History of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Aug. 16, 1978 |
| Report Number |
LEGHIST |
| Authors |
Frederick M. Kaiser |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
On May 19, 1976, the U.S. Senate established the Senate Select Committee
on Intelligence by agreeing, 72 to 22, to S. Res. 400. That action during
the 94th Congress, creating a committee with consolidated jurisdiction over
intelligence activities and with unprecedented legislative and fiscal authorization
jurisdiction for the same, culminated a lengthy heritage of deliberations
on similar proposals, dating from the mid-1950s. The establishment
of such a unique select committee--i.e., one with budget and legislative
approval (for intelligence activities) as well as with the traditional
oversight authority--climaxed an involved process of debate and deliberation,
in the chamber, on controversial proposals and provisions that generated
hearings and meetings conducted by five standing committees, reports or
recommendations from four standing and one select committee, five distinct
versions of the basic Senate resolution, and floor debate spanning ten days
and including thirteen proposed amendments, ten of which were ultimately
accepted.
