PCLOB Oversight Enhancement Act requires regular reports to civil liberties oversight board

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) announced he will introduce a bill to guarantee timely intelligence reports to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), the presidential advisory board tasked with protecting the civil liberties of all Americans.  The PCLOB Oversight Enhancement Act requires intelligence agencies to provide the PCLOB with copies of the detailed reports on their surveillance programs they already submit to the House Intelligence Committee, on which Himes serves.

“As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I help ensure that our intelligence agencies are respecting the law and Americans’ right to privacy while conducting their mission to protect our national security,” said Himes. “The only way I can conduct proper oversight is with timely and accurate information – information the PCLOB currently lacks.  My bill fills a wide gap in information sharing to help maintain the proper balance between privacy and security.”

Congress established the PCLOB in 2007 to help balance security and civil liberties in national security policy. However, while intelligence agencies report their activities regularly to the House Intelligence Committee, the PCLOB is often left out of the loop and must devote much of its scarce resources to being kept a part of the conversation. The PCLOB Oversight Enhancement Act enshrines a recent recommendation made by the PCLOB to help them fulfill their Congressionally-mandated responsibilities.