[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 13, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7645-S7652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Chambliss):
  S. 1613. A bill to require the Director of National Intelligence to 
submit to Congress an unclassified report on energy security and for 
other purposes; to the Select Committee on Intelligence.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today Senator Chambliss and I are 
introducing legislation that could have a far-reaching impact on the 
national security of the United States. As every American knows, one of 
the most important elements of our national security infrastructure is 
the collection of agencies that make up our national intelligence 
community. But when most Americans think about the CIA, the FBI, or the 
NSA, they tend to think of agencies that are focused on a small handful 
of James Bond-style issues, such as missile stockpiles, new weapons 
technologies, and coups in foreign lands. These issues are still 
important, but in the modem world it is essential to recognize that 
protecting national security is a lot more complicated than it was 
during the Cold War, and there are many other issues that require 
attention and action.
  Thankfully, the men and women of the intelligence community already 
recognize this crucial fact, and are working hard to address the wide 
variety of threats and challenges that face America in the 21st 
century. Unfortunately, many policymakers still think of intelligence 
in 20th century terms, and as a result many of our national 
intelligence capabilities are underused and underappreciated.
  The best example of this is unquestionably in the field of energy 
security. American dependence on foreign oil has made our Nation less 
safe. Oil revenues have provided income for dangerous rogue states, 
they have sparked bloody civil wars, and they have even provided 
funding for terrorism. In a sickening phenomenon that I call the terror 
tax, every time that Americans drive their cars down to the gas station 
and fill up at the pump, the reality is that a portion of that money is 
then turned over to foreign governments that ``backdoor'' it over to 
Islamist extremists, who use that money to perpetuate terrorism and 
hate. As the GAO has pointed out, while talking about the oil-rich 
nation of Saudi Arabia:

       Saudi Arabia's multibillion-dollar petroleum industry, 
     although largely owned by the government, has fostered the 
     creation of large private fortunes, enabling many wealthy 
     Saudis to sponsor charities and educational foundations whose 
     operations extend to many countries. U.S. government and 
     other expert reports have linked some Saudi donations to the 
     global propagation of religious intolerance, hatred of 
     Western values, and support to terrorist activities.


[[Page S7651]]


  Furthermore, by allowing our national energy security to depend on 
foreign oil, we are leaving the American economy vulnerable to external 
shocks and disruptions. Recent American history is full of examples of 
events overseas jolting U.S. energy supplies, and just a couple decades 
ago the oil cartel known as OPEC declared an embargo which sent the 
U.S. economy into a tailspin.
  There are many other challenges out there that have the potential to 
affect U.S. national security and energy security. For example, it 
seems clear that the Middle East will remain in turmoil for years to 
come, and policmakers will have to consider the potential impact of 
events such as a terrorist attack on a major oil facility, or a change 
in government in an oil-producing state, or the further deterioration 
of the situation in Iraq. Outside of the Middle East there are other 
challenges to face, including the continued growth of major energy 
consuming countries like India and China, the policies of less-
predictable governments such as Russia and Venezuela, and the emergence 
of new energy producers in unstable areas of the world.

  As policymakers attempt to grapple with these challenges, it is vital 
for them to be informed by the best thinking available, and as I said, 
the men and women of our national intelligence agencies are already 
performing quality analysis on many topics relevant to national 
security. This expertise is spread throughout the intelligence 
community, and includes professionals at the National Intelligence 
Council, the CIA's Office of Transnational Issues, and the Office of 
Intelligence and Counterintelligence at the Department of Energy.
  Unfortunately, this expertise is rarely used to inform energy policy 
debates, primarily because these agencies generally use it to produce 
classified assessments. This means that I can discuss them in closed 
sessions of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, but not at 
hearings of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, even though 
I am a member of both committees. This legislation would address this 
problem by requiring the Director of National Intelligence to 
coordinate the production of an unclassified report on the intelligence 
community's assessments of key energy issues that have implications for 
the national security of the United States. It will be up to the 
intelligence agencies to determine what information can safely be 
discussed in public, but I am confident that the Director will be able 
to provide Congress with a report that includes thoughtful, insightful 
discussion of these issues, without revealing any sensitive information 
or compromising any sources and methods.
  This legislation is entitled the Weighing Intelligence for Smarter 
Energy Act, or the WISE Act for short. I think that my colleagues and 
the American public would agree that when it comes to protecting our 
national energy security, it certainly wouldn't hurt for Congress to be 
a little bit wiser.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1613

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Weighing Intelligence for 
     Smarter Energy Act of 2007'' or the ``WISE Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The members of the intelligence community in the United 
     States, most notably the National Intelligence Council, the 
     Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence of the 
     Department of Energy, and the Office of Transnational Issues 
     of the Central Intelligence Agency, possess substantial 
     analytic expertise with regard to global energy issues.
       (2) Energy policy debates generally do not use, to the 
     fullest extent possible, the expertise available in the 
     intelligence community.

     SEC. 3. REPORT ON ENERGY SECURITY.

       (a) Requirement.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Director of National 
     Intelligence shall submit to Congress a report on the long-
     term energy security of the United States.
       (2) Form of report.--The report required by subsection (a) 
     shall be submitted in an unclassified form and may include a 
     classified annex.
       (b) Content.--The report submitted pursuant to subsection 
     (a) shall include the following:
       (1) An assessment of key energy issues that have national 
     security or foreign policy implications for the United 
     States.
       (2) An assessment of the future of world energy supplies, 
     including the impact likely and unlikely scenarios may have 
     on world energy supply.
       (3) A description of--
       (A) the policies being pursued, or expected to be pursued, 
     by the major energy producing countries or by the major 
     energy consuming countries, including developing countries, 
     to include policies that utilize renewable resources for 
     electrical and biofuel production;
       (B) an evaluation of the probable outcomes of carrying out 
     such policy options, including--
       (i) the economic and geopolitical impact of the energy 
     policy strategies likely to be pursued by such countries;
       (ii) the likely impact of such strategies on the decision-
     making processes on major energy cartels; and
       (iii) the impact of policies that utilize renewable 
     resources for electrical and biofuel production, including an 
     assessment of the ability of energy consuming countries to 
     reduce dependence on oil using renewable resources, the 
     economic, environmental, and developmental impact of an 
     increase in biofuels production in both developed and 
     developing countries, and the impact of an increase in 
     biofuels production on global food supplies; and
       (C) the potential impact of such outcomes on the energy 
     security and national security of the United States.

  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Weighing 
Intelligence for Smarter Energy Act, or the WISE Act. I worked with 
Senator Wyden to introduce this bill and am happy to be an original 
cosponsor.
  As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I see 
some of the most sensitive products produced by our intelligence 
community. The intelligence community's analysts possess an extensive 
and wide range of expertise on all matters which could have national 
security implications for the United States. However, because of the 
secretive nature of the intelligence community and the sensitive work 
which it conducts, few policymakers are privy to many of its products. 
In most cases, this is essential in order to protect the sensitive 
sources and methods used by our intelligence agencies. In other areas, 
including matters related to global energy security, our intelligence 
analysts can provide some valuable analysis at an unclassified level.
  Energy policy and energy security have far reaching implications for 
the United States. As the country recognizes the danger of relying on 
imported oil, we need to develop an energy policy that is aggressive 
while at the same time thoughtful. Renewable fuels like ethanol and 
biodiesel are not the solution to our problems, but they can help 
reduce our dependence on imported oil from unstable regions of the 
world during a time of rising crude oil prices. At the same time, we 
must understand and be prepared for the unintended consequences of 
pursuing alternative fuel policies and to be sensitive to their impact 
on other sectors of the U.S. and global economies. Already, incentives 
for ethanol and biodiesel in the United States, Europe, Brazil and 
other developed and developing countries are forcing changes in the 
agriculture economy not seen in over a generation. While rising demand 
for alternative fuels will increase prices for agriculture commodities 
and benefit farmers, will this increase strain development in 
developing countries, in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa? We don't 
know yet, but these are questions we should and must ask.
  We already know the impact poverty and food insecurity has on 
populations around the world. However, policymakers, especially here in 
Congress, are not realizing the full extent of information available to 
them. Energy policy debates usually do not harness the full expertise 
of the intelligence community or consider the substantive analysis they 
may contribute to the debate. Experts in the intelligence community may 
examine the effects of energy policy around the globe and the impact 
those decisions may have on U.S. policy. In addition, the intelligence 
community can provide an analysis of the impact around the world of 
policies that utilize renewable resources. This legislation asks for 
just that type of analysis.
  The WISE Act asks the intelligence community to provide an 
intelligence

[[Page S7652]]

assessment on the long-term energy security of the United States. The 
bill requests that as much of the assessment as possible be 
unclassified, while taking into consideration the need to protect 
valuable sources and methods by including a classified portion, it is 
my hope that this bill will better inform energy policy. In addition to 
informing policymakers of the energy security of the United States, the 
bill will also provide important analysis on the international impact 
of energy policies around the world.
  The WISE Act will harness fully the expertise of our intelligence 
community and allow policymakers to formulate more informed energy 
policy. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill.
                                 ______