. -- overclassify than underclassify. >> it was shown to be the wrong decision.

it's easier to overclassify than to underclassify. it's safer to overclassify than underclassify. and now we're having to get in to the hard work of fiefnedding just where -- finding where that line is. it's a difficult job to do. it's worth doing. >> senator, can i add -- >> or the torture program gets exposed. we have a significant cyberattack. or something happens that shows the short term decision it was easier to classify was the wrong decision. >> i want to add on this. i know, you are -- you're familiar with what i'm about to say, but we are having a public debate now. it's not without cost. the information that has been leak is going to do damage to our ability to protect the nation. we are going lose capability. people are paying attention to this. the way that typical the congress, through the legislation passes the internal rule has historically thought to achieve the balance between appropriate oversight of intelligence activities, and the need to protect sources and method is through the primarily the intelligence committee, but also some other committee of congress.

underclassify. now we have to get into the hard work of finding just for that line is and that is a difficult job to do. it is worth doing. wrongwas shown to be the decision. it might have been easier to classified but it was the wrong decision. >> i want to add to this. you're familiar with what i'm going to say. this public debate is not without cost. it does damage to our ability to protect our nation. we are losing capabilities. abel are not paying attention to -- this. people are paying attention to this. the way we go to this legislation and it passes through its internal rules, it has sought to achieve the balance between the needs to protect sources and methods through the intelligence committee and the other committees. typically, this the form that has been used to strike this balance. >> we all get that. my time is expired. my point is, the american public is an important part of this debate. we would be better off if there is not such a strong instinct in favor of keeping things classifi

. -- overclassify than underclassify. >> it was shown to be the wrong decision. >> i want to add to this. you're familiar with what i'm going to say. this public debate is not without cost. it does damage to our ability to protect our nation. we are losing capabilities. abel are not paying attention to this. the way we go to this legislation and it passes through its internal rules, it has sought to achieve the balance between the needs to protect sources and methods through the intelligence committee and the other committees. typically, this the form that has been used to strike this balance. >> we all get that. my point is, the american public is an important part of this debate. we would be better off if there is not such a strong instinct in favor of keeping things classified. if we develop ways to minimize that intelligence collection loss to have this debate. thank you. >> thank you. i want to thank the chairman for this hearing and his legislative proposal. to each of you, for your extraordinary contribution to our nation and the thousands of others in the intelligence community w