[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 116 (Thursday, September 23, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9604-S9605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   NOMINATION OF THE HONORABLE PORTER GOSS TO BE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL 
                              INTELLIGENCE

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Madam President, I was unavoidably absent from 
yesterday's vote on the nomination of Porter Goss to be Director of 
Central Intelligence. I wish the Record to show that if I had been 
present, I would have voted in favor of the nomination.
  The Constitution gives the President the power to select the heads of 
government agencies and departments. The Senate was given the 
responsibility of reviewing these choices and approving or disapproving 
them. As a body, the Senate was not given the authority to choose 
whomever it wishes to fill these positions. Nor is any Senator able to 
substitute the President's choice with an individual who he or she 
feels is better qualified than the President's nominee. Rather, the 
Senate's consent is designed to act as a ``check'' on the selection of 
an egregious candidate and a final review of the qualifications and 
competencies of the nominee.
  Porter Goss would not have been my choice for Director of Central 
Intelligence. I share the concerns of many of my colleagues about the 
partisan political nature of many of Representative Goss's statements 
and positions in recent months. His opposition to the creation of the 
9/11 Commission is particularly troubling. With his extensive knowledge 
of the intelligence community, I would have expected him to be acutely 
aware that the commission was

[[Page S9605]]

vitally important to improving national security and healing the wounds 
of September 11, 2001.
  However, one cannot dispute the fact that Representative Goss has a 
great deal of experience both inside and outside the intelligence 
community. Early in his career he worked for the CIA both in covert 
operations during the Cold War and in analysis for the Directorate of 
Operations. This familiarity with the agency proved very valuable when, 
after his election to Congress in 1988, he joined the House of 
Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, serving as 
its chairman for the past 7 years. By all accounts, Representative Goss 
has worked diligently to perform the oversight functions invested in 
Congress and to improve the quality of intelligence operations.
  Representative Goss indicated in his testimony last week before the 
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that he appreciates that the 
Director of Central Intelligence, DCI, does not have the same freedom 
as a Member of Congress to be partisan or provocative. The DCI is 
required by law to be nonpartisan, and remain above the political fray. 
As we saw in the Iraq war, politicization of intelligence is one of the 
gravest threats to our national security. Representative Goss 
acknowledged that ``objective and precise intelligence is only possible 
if the intelligence community's leadership is itself objective, 
independent and clear in its commitment to these ideas.''
  Mr. Goss has been quite forthright in criticizing the intelligence 
community for relying too heavily on national technical means and not 
investing in the more difficult area of human intelligence collection. 
This takes more time and commitment, but it is essential if we are to 
make headway against international terrorism.
  The coming years will bring considerable reorganization and potential 
turmoil for the intelligence community. I believe changes must be made 
in a very careful, conscientious, and nonpartisan manner. 
Representative Goss has said he understands that politics must stop at 
the DCI's office door. Based on his assurance that he understands the 
difference between being a Member of Congress and being in charge of 
the Nation's intelligence, I will support his confirmation. For the 
sake of the Nation, we all must hope that he is successful.
  Mr. SANTORUM. Madam President, I regret that I was unable to vote 
yesterday afternoon on the nomination of Porter Goss to be Director of 
the Central Intelligence Agency. Yesterday, I was surveying the 
significant flood damage in Pennsylvania with President Bush. As my 
colleagues know, the remnants of Hurricane Ivan wreaked havoc in my 
home State. Parts of Allegheny County received eight inches of rain in 
a 24-hour period. A member of my Pittsburgh staff lost everything he 
owned in the flood. A total of 41 counties in Pennsylvania have now 
been declared Federal disaster areas. I was pleased that President Bush 
took the time to visit with my constituents and bring a message of hope 
and aid to Western Pennsylvania.
  On the nomination of Porter Goss, I would like to add my voice to the 
others that have expressed confidence in his abilities to lead the CIA 
in these difficult times. Congressman Goss' experience as a former Army 
intelligence officer and as a CIA field officer will serve him well as 
we undertake the awesome responsibility of guiding and improving the 
CIA.
  The need for a coordinated and comprehensive intelligence system for 
this country is imperative. I am pleased that President Bush has 
nominated a capable candidate to take on the difficult challenge of 
improving not only our level of human intelligence, but also the 
ability of our intelligence community to provide our policy makers with 
better intelligence products.
  I ask that the Record reflect that, had I been here, I would have 
voted in favor of the nomination of Porter Goss to be Director of the 
Central Intelligence Agency.

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