Provisions in a counterintelligence bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) recently made it into the larger Damon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for Fiscal Year 2020.
Rep. Stefanik in April introduced the Counterintelligence Accountability Act, H.R. 2286, which would task the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with providing briefings on the bureau’s counterintelligence activities to the congressional intelligence committees, according to the bill’s text.
“The FBI should not be able to circumvent Congress and unilaterally conduct investigations without any congressional oversight due to a loophole in the law,” said Rep. Stefanik. “I’m proud to continue leading the effort for transparency at all levels of the government.”
H.R. 2286 language is now included in the IAA for FY 2020, H.R. 3494, which was introduced on June 26 by U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) to authorize FY 2020 appropriations for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the federal government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System.
Among other provisions, the IAA takes language from H.R. 2286 to also require the FBI to notify the House and Senate Intelligence Committee quarterly when the bureau opens a counterintelligence investigation into a candidate for federal office, campaign for a candidate for federal office, or an individual knowingly associated with a campaign for a candidate for federal office, according to Rep. Stefanik’s office.
“The Intelligence Authorization Act is a critical piece of legislation to ensure our intelligence community is fully prepared to protect our nation,” Rep. Stefanik said. “I’m pleased that language from my bill to ensure Congress is notified of any counterintelligence investigations into federal candidates was included in the IAA.”