Qtungress at the Written ?tates
?13 20515

March 27, 2015

The Honorable David Medine

Chairman

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
2100 K. Street, NW

Suite 500

Washington, DC 20427

Dear Chairman Medine:

Recently, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) announced it
would study Executive Order 12333 (13.0. 12333), which governs the conduct of US.
intelligence activities. It has recently come to the attention of our Committees that the
PCLOB has begun this review.

When the PCLOB was established by the Implementing Recommendations of the
9/1 1 Commission Act of 2007? its purpose was carefully de?ned: ?to analyze and review
actions the executive branch takes to protect the Nation from terrorism,? and to ?ensure
that liberty concerns are appropriately considered? in these efforts to ?protect the Nation
against terrorism.? 42 U.S.C. 

As we are sure you are aware, intelligence activities conducted under 110. 12333
address a broad range of national security issues beyond counterterrorism, including
significant and important foreign intelligence matters that fall well outside of the 
limited statutory charter. Many intelligence activities conducted under 13.0. 12333 predate
the creation of the PCLOB and were not within the scope that the 9/1 1 Commission or
Congress envisioned when PCLOB was established. The purpose is clear and
speci?cally de?ned by Congress.

We trust you will keep in mind the ?nite statutory authority as you move
forward and work with the Intelligence Community to limit appropriately your review only
to those matters which Congress has speci?cally authorized you to review.

The Committees would like to be briefed as soon as possible as the scope! nature,
and status of the work related to E0. 1-2333. Please contact on
the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence staff at (2.02) 224-- and on
the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence at (202) 225?- to schedule such
briefings for each committee, respectively.

Sincerely,

Richard Burr Devin Nunes
Chairman Chairman
United States Senate United States House of Representatives
Select Committee on Intelligence Pennanent Select Committee on
Intelligence
cc:

The Honorable Rachel L. Brand

The Honorable Elisebeth Collins Cook
The Honorable James X. Dempsey
The Honorable Patricia M. Wald