[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 437 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 437

Expressing the sense of Congress that United States officials who leak 
  sensitive classified national security secrets should be vigorously 
           investigated and, if need be, brought to justice.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 27, 2006

  Ms. Harris submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress that United States officials who leak 
  sensitive classified national security secrets should be vigorously 
           investigated and, if need be, brought to justice.

Whereas the United States is currently engaged in a worldwide war on terror 
        against Islamofascism;
Whereas the United States is fighting an enemy who is patient and will stop at 
        nothing to kill Americans at home and abroad;
Whereas the United States is engaging the enemy through both overt and covert 
        operations;
Whereas the covert operations conducted by the United States occur in the 
        shadows where the enemy resides and are vital for the success of 
        particular operations and the war on terror in general;
Whereas certain United States officials have engaged in a pattern of leaking 
        sensitive classified national security secrets;
Whereas the unlawful leaking of sensitive classified national security secrets 
        has damaged United States operations during a time of war;
Whereas congressional oversight committees exist to address concerns over 
        certain national security issues;
Whereas the unlawful leaking of sensitive classified national security secrets 
        may arise from benevolent or malevolent motives and may be acted upon 
        through good or ill intentions;
Whereas given the serious damage done to United States operations against 
        Islamofascism, an investigation is warranted to determine which United 
        States officials have leaked sensitive classified national security 
        secrets to third parties and what the intentions of those officials 
        were;
Whereas the multitude of means available to address concerns over operations 
        alleviates any need to unlawfully disclose sensitive classified national 
        security secrets to third parties who need not know such information;
Whereas the recent leaking of sensitive classified national security secrets may 
        cause the current war on terror to last longer than it would have 
        without such leaks;
Whereas members of the media who publish information claim to be acting pursuant 
        to the First Amendment of the Constitution;
Whereas the First Amendment of the Constitution does not mandate that members of 
        the media publish information relating to sensitive classified national 
        security secrets;
Whereas Congress remains committed to defeating the enemies of the Nation using 
        both overt and covert actions; and
Whereas Congress is proud of the troops and remains committed to the cause for 
        which they fight, the advancement of the universal yearning for freedom 
        that exists in the hearts of men: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) United States officials who leak sensitive classified 
        national security secrets should be investigated and, if need 
        be, brought to justice;
            (2) United States officials who are concerned over certain 
        United States covert operations have a multitude of lawful 
        means available to effectively express those concerns, 
        including contacting appropriate congressional oversight 
        committees;
            (3) United States officials who leak sensitive classified 
        national security secrets and who, after a thorough 
        investigation are determined to maintain malevolent intentions, 
        should be tried for treason; and
            (4) members of the media have the right to abstain from 
        publishing sensitive classified national security secrets for 
        fear that United States operations may be compromised and 
        Islamofascism may advance.
                                 <all>