Four senators have filed the Enable IC Partnerships Act, a bipartisan bill that would promote public and private collaboration with the intelligence community in the adoption of advanced technologies and development of technical talents.
One of the bill’s proponents, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Az., said the U.S. intelligence community grows stronger once equipped with the tools necessary to tackle foreseen threats to national security.
“This bipartisan effort will make it easier for our intelligence agencies to leverage partnerships to secure state-of-the-art technology and talent, ensuring the U.S. maintains an edge over adversaries,” Kelly remarked.
Kelly’s co-authors in the measure are Sens. John Cornyn, R-Tx.; Mark Warner, D-Va.; and James Lankford, R-Ok.
Who Are the Potential IC Partners?
A statement from Kelly’s office issued on Friday noted that the intelligence community’s acquisition officials must be able to access public and private capital for the acquisition of technologies suited to address global threats to national security.
The office also said the lenders that could be explored for potential partnerships under the bill include the Department of Defense’s Office of Strategic Capital, as well as private financial institutions.
“Through IC partnerships with federal lending agencies like DOD’s Office of Strategic Capital and fostering greater IC public-private partnerships, we can better equip collectors and analysts with the tools to meet workforce demand and strengthen our national security,” Cornyn said.
Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, noted that U.S. intelligence operations must meet the rapid rise of the technological capabilities of U.S. adversaries, stating, “This legislation would help give the IC the support, funding and flexibility needed to better protect our national security.”
Kelly, Warner, Cornyn and Lankford are also co-authors of the proposed Enabling New Agile Buying-power and Leveraging Enhancements in Intelligence Community Acquisitions Act, which seeks to streamline IC’s acquisition of advanced technologies.
