Congressman Carson Leads Provisions Addressing Sexual Assault, Health Issues in the CIA  

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman André Carson (IN-07), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Subcommittee on the CIA, voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2024 Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA), which included five provisions Congressman Carson authored.

“The CIA serves as our country’s first line of defense, and we must ensure it functions efficiently and effectively at every level,” said Congressman Carson. “That means protecting the men and women who so bravely serve by reducing sexual assault and harassment, expanding access to mental health resources, and strengthening our ability to address anomalous health incidents. These provisions will improve the CIA as an agency and ultimately improve our national security overall.”

 The IAA authorizes programs, policies and funding for intelligence-related activities and related issues, seeking to enhance and protect national security. Congressman Carson serves as Ranking Member of the CIA Subcommittee, which is responsible for oversight of the policies, activities, and budgets of Central Intelligence Agency programs. Congressman Carson’s five provisions address: 

1. Sexual Assault and Harassment: Using survivor testimony, this provision requires the CIA Director to develop a broad set of new policies to combat sexual assault and harassment, establishes an office of Victim and Whistleblower Counsel as well as a Special Victim Investigator, and creates a new system of reporting for sexual assault or harassment.
2. Mental Health Access: This provision assesses whether CAI employees have access to mental health professional and chaplains, including those who have recently returned from high-threat tours. It will also assess the feasibility of expanding such services.
3. Extending Employee Benefits: This provision requires public institutions of higher education to charge employees, their spouses, and their dependent children in-state tuition if the employee’s domicile or permanent duty station is in that state, extending same treatment already applied to members of the armed forces and members of the Foreign Service.
4. Improving Response to Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs) (“Havana Syndrome”): This provision expands access to intelligence on AHIs and strengthens the response of cross-functional teams.
5. Providing Funds to Individuals Affected by Anomalous Health Incidents: This provision enables AHI-affected individuals in the CIA to access funds from the Helping Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks Act of 2021 (the HAVANA Act). 

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