LETTER TO NEWT GINGRICH FROM WILLIAM J. PERRY, JOHN DEUTCH, AND JOHN M. SHALIKA

Created: 11/27/1995

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

S

The Honorable Newt Gingrich

Speaker of che House of Representatives

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Dear Kr. Speaker:

We believe chat che consolidation of imageryingle agency within Che Department ofwill improve the overall effectiveness and efficiencyintelligence and. napping support toationalcustomers, Accordingly, we have agreedoncepCa National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIHA) Chatresponsibility for imagery and mapping similar to whatSecurity Agency has for signals intelligence. would have program and budget authorities as welldeveloptnenc, acquisition, exploitation, andfor imagery and mapping. Moreover,of NIMA would have responsibility for che reviewof other imagery resources to assure complianceand

A number of factors poinC Co Che advancage of consolidating efforcs thee axe now separateew agency. Firsc, imagery intelligence and mapping products are of growing importance Co an increasingly diverse customer base across Che government. eingle streamlined ogency focused on exploitation and distribution of Imagery-derived produces to serve this growing customer base. Second, with responsibilicies currencly split among five agencies, ac presenc we are poorly positioned Co leverage Che tremendous potential of enhanced collection systems, digital processing technology, and the prospective expansion, in commercial imagery. Third. Che revolucior. in information technology makesymbiosis of imagery intelligence and mapping which can best be realized through more coherent management. In the long run. these challenges can most efficiently be met by consolon of our imagery and mapping assetsesignated Comsat Support Agency.

Since early summer, an interagency cask force representing the Intelligence Community, the DOD. and civil agencies has examined the merits and details associated with merging disparate Defense and Intelligence elements as well as the myriad possible approaches toward consolidation of imagery and mapping functions The Objective has been to determine the approach that makes the

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The Honorable Newt Gingrich

External Distribution:

Robert Dole

Larry Corabest. HPSCI

Nonr-ar. D. Sicks, HPSCI

Arlen Specter. SSCI

J. Robert Kerrey, SSCI

C.W. Bill Young. HAC/NSS

John P. Kurtha. HAC/NSS

Ted Stevens. SAC/DelSubCcn

Floyd Spence, HNSC

Ronald V. Dellums. HNSC

Strom Thurmond. SASC

Sam Nuaa, SASC

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Original document.

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