Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Strengthening Oversight of National Security Act of 2017”.
Strengthening Oversight of National Security Act of 2017
A BILL
To amend the National Security Act of 1947 to modify the requirements for membership in the National Security Council and cabinet-level policy forum, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Modification of membership requirements for National Security Council and Cabinet-Level Policy Forum
National Security Council— Section 101(c) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3021(c)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
by striking “The Council” and inserting “Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Council”;
by inserting “the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” after “the Secretary of Energy,”; and
by striking “and such other officers of the United States Government as the President may designate.” and inserting “appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.”; and
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
“(2) Limitation on membership and participation
“(A) Approval by Congress—The President may not designate as a member or attendee a covered individual under paragraph (1) (excluding the National Security Advisor and Deputies, the Homeland Security Advisor and Deputies, the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, the Counsel to the President, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the Assistant to the Vice President for National Security) unless a joint resolution or bill is enacted approving of the designation of the covered individual by the President.
“(B) Covered individual defined—In this paragraph, the term covered individual means an individual in a position that is not subject to confirmation by the Senate.”
Sec. 3 Interagency forum for policy consideration and decisionmaking
Creation— There is a cabinet-level interagency forum for policy consideration and decisionmaking to support the National Security Council.
Composition— Except as provided in subsection (c), the composition of the interagency forum for policy consideration and decisionmaking to support the National Security Council shall reflect the membership of the National Security Council and any member of the executive branch who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, as determined by the President.
Exceptions—
In general— Any exception to the requirement of subsection (b) shall only be permitted for a one-time decisionmaking action.
Notification to Congress— The President shall submit to Congress a notification of any exercise of an exception permitted by this subsection not later than 24 hours after the execution of such exception.