[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 17, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H5439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ANNOUNCEMENT BY CHAIRMAN OF PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE 
      REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF CLASSIFIED ANNEX AND SCHEDULE OF 
                             AUTHORIZATIONS

  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to announce to all Members of the House 
that the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence ordered the bill, 
H.R. 2417, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, 
reported favorably to the House with an amendment. The committee's 
report will be filed later today, Tuesday, June 17, under the unanimous 
consent just agreed to.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to announce that the Classified 
Schedule of Authorizations and the Classified Annex that accompanies 
H.R. 2417 will be available for review by Members at the offices of the 
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in Room H-405 of the Capitol 
beginning any time after the bill is filed. The committee office will 
open during regular business hours for the convenience of any Member 
who wishes to review this material prior to its consideration by the 
House. I anticipate that H.R. 2417 will be considered on the floor of 
the House next week.
  I would recommend that Members wishing to review the Classified Annex 
contact the committee's Director of Security to arrange a time and date 
for that viewing. This will assure the availability of committee staff 
to assist Members who desire that assistance during their review of 
these classified materials.
  I urge Members to take some time to review these classified documents 
before the bill is brought to the floor, in order to better understand 
the recommendations of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. 
Much of this material cannot be discussed on the floor.
  The Classified Annex to the committee's report contains the 
committee's recommendations on the intelligence budget for fiscal year 
2004 and related classified information that cannot be disclosed 
publicly.

                              {time}  1500

  It is important that Members keep in mind the requirements of rule 
XXIII, clause 13 of the House. That rule only permits access to 
classified information by those Members of the House who have signed 
the oath set out in clause 13 of House rule XXIII.
  I would advise Members wishing to review the classified annex and its 
classified schedule of authorizations that they must bring with them a 
copy of the rule XXIII oath signed by them when they come to the 
committee office to review that material.
  If a Member has not yet signed that oath, but wishes to review the 
classified annex and schedule of authorizations, the committee staff 
can administer the oath as a service for that Member and see to it that 
the executed form is sent to the Clerk's office. We would be happy to 
do that. Additionally, the committee's rules require that Members 
execute a nondisclosure agreement indicating that they have been 
granted access to the classified annex and classified schedule of 
authorizations, and that they are familiar with both the rules of the 
House and the committee with respect to the classified nature of 
information contained in the classified annex and the limitations on 
the disclosure of that information.
  I am sorry for all the bureaucratese, but we take very seriously our 
responsibility to keep this matter properly provided for and 
safeguarded.

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