Dear Member of Congress:
We are writing to urge you to support an amendment expected to be offered by Rep. Tim Roemer to H.R. 4205, the Intelligence Authorization Act of FY 2001, to require disclosure of the total amount of money spent last year on intelligence matters. The bill is expected to be on the House floor on May 17.
As a general rule of responsible governing, taxpayers have a right to know what their tax dollars support. The Constitution provides that "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures shall be published from time to time." This is entirely consistent with the notion that the federal government should be accountable for its expenditures. One way to promote accountability, and to help properly define the role of the intelligence agencies through public debate, is to adopt the very modest reform that this amendment would require.
Congressional disclosure of last year's aggregate intelligence budget would not harm national security and would enhance accountability of the intelligence agencies. Disclosure has been urged by President Clinton. A few years ago, the Commission on the Roles and Capabilities of the United States Intelligence Community (the "Brown-Aspin Commission") issued a report recommending, among other things, that the total intelligence budget be disclosed. In fact, in 1996, the Senate Intelligence Committee recommended disclosure of this figure. These individuals and entities recognize that any Cold War justification for keeping the total budget secret has passed. Moreover, the CIA itself disclosed these figures for 1997 ($26.6 billion) and 1998 ($26.7 billion). It is difficult to imagine how disclosure of what was already spent in a past year would pose a threat to national security today, or in a future year.
We urge you to support the amendment requiring disclosure of the total amount spent last year on intelligence matters.
Sincerely,
Laura W. Murphy
Director
Gregory T. Nojeim
Legislative Counsel