WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence approved by a vote of 13-2 the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, which includes several provisions sponsored by Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) to increase oversight and accountability of intelligence agencies and direct agencies to more efficiently use government resources. 

The Intelligence Authorization Act authorizes intelligence funding to counter terrorist threats, prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, enhance counterintelligence, conduct covert actions and collect and analyze intelligence around the world. The bill reflects the committee’s oversight over the past year and its consideration of the president’s budgetary and legislative requests.

“I congratulate my colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee on passage in committee of the Fiscal Year 2014 Intelligence Authorization bill, especially Chairman Feinstein and Vice Chairman Chambliss,” Sen. Warner said.  “I am proud to have offered a number of amendments to the bill that were accepted. My amendments seek to add additional measures designed to improve oversight of the intelligence community while directing the intelligence enterprise to operate in a more efficient and transparent manner.”

Sen. Warner’s provisions:

1. Direct the Intelligence Community to  provide a detailed analysis of cost-effectiveness of the various intelligence activities to ensure we are optimizing our resources in this budget-constrained environment;
2. Charge the Intelligence Community with creating a strategic business plan for Research and Development (R&D) investment – as recommended by the National Commission on R&D in the Intelligence Community, of which Sen. Warner was a commissioner – to ensure we keep pace with other nations in the race to develop cutting-edge technologies that are critical to our success.
3. Support efforts to maintain our edge in the commercial  satellite sector by developing policies and technologies that deliver increased capabilities while leveraging private sector innovation to drive down costs.