ms. krass and should arriveso shortly from another hearing.t when he does come in, i will give him the opportunity to pics his remarks -- to make his remarks, and hen we will go bach to whatever we are doing. we have received answers to oure prehearing questions from bothav nominees. this committee has the jurisdiction over all nominees requiring senate confirmation within the intelligence community. and we try to move that process as quickly as we can. the number of these positions is fairly small, and so i appreciate my colleagues' cooperation to keep the process running. it is my hope that we will be able to vote on these two nominees as one of the first orders of business when we return in january. both ms. krass and ambassador smith have long and distinguished careers, but neither has worked for an intelligence agency or in a primarily intelligence profession in the past. this is not a disqualification, and both of you have been involved in intelligence matters over the course of your care

ms. krass and ambassador smith have long and distinguished careers, but neither has worked for an intelligence agency or in a primarily intelligence position in the past. his is not a disqualification. both of you have been involved in intelligence matters over the course of your careers. but we will ask you both to discuss how you intend to lead and supervise intelligence organizations as relative outsiders. caroline krass currently serves as the principal deputy assistant attorney general in the office of legal council, or o.l.c. she has also serve wanted at the national security council, and previously in legal positions at the department of treasury and state. the committee has received several letters in support of her confirmation from senior officials and colleagues from both sides of the aisle, and i ask unanimous consent that those letters be made part of the record. if confirmed as general counsel, ms. krass would be the chief legal officer of the c.i.a., responsible for providing leg

ms. krass and ambassador smith have long and distinguished careers, but neither has worked for an intelligence agency or in a primarily intelligence position in the past. this is not a disqualification, and both of you have been involved in intelligence matters over the course of your careers, but we will ask you both to discuss how you intend to lead and supervise intelligence organizations as relative outsiders. caroline krass currently serves as the principle department assistant attorney general in the office of legal counsel, or olc. she has also served at the national security council and previously in legal positions at the department of treasury and state. the committee has received several letters in support of her confirmation from senior officials and colleagues from both sides of the aisle, and i ask unanimous consent that those letters be made part of the record. if confirmed as general counsel, ms. krass would be the chief legal officer of the cia, responsible for providing legal

well, thanks, madam chair, and i join you in congratulating ms. krass and ambassador smith on being nominated by the president for these respected positions, and i also want to express our thanks to their predecessors, steven preston and philip goldburg, for their service. last week the committee approved this report on the september 12 benghazi terrorist attacks. this report includes findings and recommendations that are relevant to both the cia and the state department and including the bureau of intelligence and research. there are many lessons to be learned from benghazi, and i encourage both of you to read this report carefully once it is released, as i know you will. ambassador of the bureau of intelligence and research has made some important contributions to the intelligence community analysis over the years, but i do have concns about whether >> i do have concerns if it is doing enough independent analysis, especially with terrorist attacks on u.s. facilities overseas. i hope that he will be at the forefront of intelligence issues that concern

but, ms. krass, i also want to stress to you your important role in the agency that you are going to be the counsel of, presuming you are confirmed. you are not the defense lawyer for the cia. you represent the people of the united states in advising the cia as to what the law is. please don't misunderstand that responsibility because you have, i believe you and we, this committee, has a special responsibility because unlike virtually any other part of our government, this is a secret part of our government. the public -- all the checks and balances of the public and the press and the access and the interest groups aren't present. and, therefore, those of us who have the responsibility of overseeing the conduct of this agency, i believe it's a essential and weighty one. and you especially have one. and i understand human nature. i practiced haw myself. you always want -- law myself. you always want to tell your client how to do what they want to do. but i think in this case you have to be, you have