Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment, today sent the following letter regarding Subcommittee oversight of the NSA’s warrentless surveillance programs:
Media Contact: Kyra Jennings, 202.225.3072, kyra.jennings@mail.house.gov
The Honorable Robert Simmons
Chairman
Subcommittee on Intelligence,
Information Sharing, and Terrorism
Risk Assessment
Dear Chairman Simmons:
Thank you again for inviting Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, National Security Agency (NSA) Director Lieutenant General Keith B. Alexander, and Department of Homeland Security Chief Intelligence Officer Charles Allen to the continued hearing yesterday on privacy and the Department’s intelligence enterprise.
We share your disappointment that none of the witnesses accepted your invitation, and appreciate your promise to secure their attendance in the near future. The shocking revelation today about the NSA’s collection and storing of the phone calls records of millions of American citizens only underscores our need to hear from these witnesses as soon as possible. As we both agree, our Subcommittee should closely examine whether the Department of Homeland Security is effectively applying privacy and civil liberties protections as part of its intelligence enterprise in order to avoid precisely this type of situation.
Please keep us informed about your progress in getting the witnesses to a new hearing and let us know how we can help, if at all. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Bennie G. Thompson
Ranking Member
Zoe Lofgren
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment
cc: Alberto Gonzalez, Attorney General
Lieutenant General Keith B. Alexander
Charles Allen, Chief Intelligence Officer
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Transcript for Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment Hearing on Privacy Protection in DHS
Congressional Hearing Transcript May 10, 2006
SIMMONS: The Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment will come to order.
We're meeting today at the request of the minority members of the subcommittee under House Rule 11 to receive testimony from a witness of the minority's choosing for one additional day on the subject of protection of privacy in the Department of Homeland Security intelligence enterprise.
The majority extended invitations to every witness that the minority requested, and I personally called the primary witness, Dean Parker, to secure her testimony for today.
Unfortunately, none of the minority witnesses were available to attend. But, as I've expressed to my friend and colleague from California, I will continue in this effort.
LOFGREN: Mr. Chairman, I appreciate that offer of collaboration.
And as we discussed briefly early today, Dean Parker has not been able to attend. And I think, since she doesn't have current knowledge, we will continue to pursue the other three witnesses which you have written to. And I look forward to working with you in securing their attendance and learning what we can.
So, at this point, I would concur that this hearing ought to be called to a halt -- or gavelled to a halt. And we will see either those three witnesses or their representatives who can speak knowledgeably for them at a future date.
And I thank you for your courtesy.
SIMMONS: I thank the ranking member for her comments. I concur in her assessment of the situation.
Having no witnesses, the subcommittee stands adjourned.
