The Brennan Center, along with more than 50 organizations, sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Wednesday urging them to reform congressional oversight of intelligence activities. “The House of Representatives has not always effectively performed its duties. The time for modernization is now,” the groups said in the letter.
Specifically, the groups asked that leaders restructure the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence to allow ranking members from other congressional intelligence committees be allowed to participate in the committee, as well other measures to increase the speed and transparency of committee activity. The groups also asked for reforms that empower all members of Congress when it comes to intelligence activities and for a broad-based review of the activities of the Intelligence Community since 9/11.