S-245 : Still Just a Bill

Damon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019

This bill addresses various intelligence issues, including by reauthorizing intelligence-related activities, establishing certain bodies, and directing the intelligence community to report on topics such as election infrastructure security and Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The bill reauthorizes through FY2019 various intelligence-related activities in specified government bodies, including the Department of Defense, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency. It also reauthorizes for FY2019 the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund. In addition, the bill authorizes higher pay scales for positions requiring expertise in areas such as science, technology, and mathematics.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) shall establish a task force to standardize information sharing between the intelligence and government acquisition communities. The President shall establish an Energy Infrastructure Security Center to analyze and disseminate intelligence related to energy infrastructure.

The ODNI shall develop a security plan and long-term roadmap for the information technology environment for the intelligence community.

The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis shall report to Congress about cyberattacks on U.S. election infrastructure during the 2016 presidential election. The ODNI shall report on the intelligence community's efforts to analyze Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election. The ODNI shall also develop a whole-of-government strategy to counter the threat of Russian cyberattacks on election infrastructure, including voter registration databases and voting equipment.