To express the sense of Congress concerning the appointment of a special counsel to conduct a fair, thorough, and independent investigation into a national security breach.

SA 1872. Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Reid, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Biden, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Graham of Florida, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Edwards) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1689, making emergency supplemental appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan security and reconstruction for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, and for other purposes; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. __. SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL COUNSEL TO CONDUCT A FAIR, THOROUGH, AND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO A NATIONAL SECURITY BREACH.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--

(1) the national security of the United States is dependent on our intelligence operatives being able to operate undercover and without fear of having their identities disclosed;

(2) recent reports have indicated that administration or White House officials may have deliberately leaked the identity of a covert CIA agent to the media;

(3) the unauthorized disclosure of a covert intelligence agent's identity is a Federal felony; and

(4) the Attorney General has the power to appoint a special counsel of integrity and stature who may conduct an investigation into the leak without the appearance of any conflict of interest.

(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Attorney General of the United States should appoint a special counsel of the highest integrity and stature to conduct a fair, independent, and thorough investigation of the leak and ensure that all individuals found to be responsible for this heinous deed are punished to the fullest extent permitted by law.