House clears intelligence authorization bill

The House on Wednesday cleared the intelligence authorization for fiscal 2015 with little opposition a day after the release of a Senate report asserting that the CIA used torture on detainees and misled lawmakers.

Passage of the measure by a 325-100 vote now sends it to the White House for President Obama’s signature. 

{mosads}Specifics of the intelligence authorization are limited because much of it is classified. It authorizes activities and funding for the CIA, National Security Agency (NSA) and Director of National Intelligence (DNI).

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) said the authorization increases the president’s budget request by less than one percent and is consistent with the 2013 budget pact.

“The bill’s modest increase reflects the committee’s concern that the president’s request does not properly fund a number of important initiatives and leaves several unacceptable shortfalls when it comes to the matters of national security,” Rogers said. 

Rogers hinted at the controversy over the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on the use of torture, suggesting it overshadowed the overall contributions of intelligence workers.

“We should not condemn them. We should be proud of their work,” Rogers said. 

Lawmakers also noted the measure authorizes additional resources to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“This bill acknowledges the need to step up intelligence efforts to counter evolving threats such as ISIS. It’s a dangerous world out there and our bill accounts for that,” said Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (Md.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence panel.

One provision of the legislation requires the DNI to submit a report to Congress on ways to reform its declassification process. Another would require a report on political prison camps in North Korea.

The Senate passed the bill by voice vote Tuesday night. It originally passed in the House in May by a vote of 345-59, but it had to go through the House again after Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) amended it.