[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 119 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S9763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S9763]]
                          INTELLIGENCE REFORM

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, on leader time--and we will come right into 
morning business shortly--I want to continue on the intelligence reform 
bill that is underway and make a very brief statement. Just a few 
minutes ago, the Democratic leader and I urged our colleagues to come 
forward and submit their amendments. We just had further discussion 
with the assistant Democratic leader. Over the course of the day, we 
must see these amendments.
  Today, we continue debate on a bill to overhaul the intelligence 
community of the United States Government. It is a huge undertaking. 
The reforms are the most comprehensive since the National Security Act 
of 1947. But nothing less than the security of the United States of 
America is at stake.
  We have determined enemies who will use any means available to take 
the lives of as many Americans as possible. They cheered when the Twin 
Towers fell. They dream of even larger calamities.
  They must be stopped. And that requires an intelligence system that 
finds them, before they harm us.
  Under the leadership of Senator Collins and Senator Lieberman, the 
Government Affairs Committee has produced a bill that is worthy of this 
task. It was passed unanimously out of committee.
  It has received support from the White House.
  And it is supported by the Senate leadership.
  The Senate will examine this legislation in a comprehensive and 
deliberate manner. We will be focused and expeditious.
  We have a unanimous consent agreement that restricts amendments ``to 
the subject matter of the bill or related to the 9/11 Commission 
recommendations.''
  I urge Senators that if they have, or are considering, amendments 
that they inform or file them with the manager today.
  I am confident we will come to agreement on this package in a timely 
manner. I know that it is ambitious, but my hope is that we can 
complete this bill by the end of this week. This would give us time to 
conference with the House.
  Reforming the executive branch and the legislative branch is key to 
improving the security of the American people and our great Nation.
  I am proud to say that we have worked in a bipartisan manner at every 
level, from individual Members, through committees, to leadership.
  We have also worked closely with the administration, which has 
embraced the findings and recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
  The administration has taken additional measures to further improve 
our counter-terrorism and intelligence efforts. These efforts deserve 
our praise.
  The committee has worked to produce a bill that addresses fundamental 
issues facing our intelligence community. It contains a number of key 
recommendations consistent with the 9/11 report.
  First, and most critically, the legislation creates a national 
intelligence director with robust budgetary and personnel authority 
over the intelligence community.
  As recommended by the 9/11 report, the NID will be the President's 
primary intelligence advisor. This official will be Senate-confirmed 
and separate from the CIA Director. The NID's primary mission is to 
break down stovepipes, and knit the intelligence agencies into an agile 
and effective network.
  The NID will develop and present to the President the annual budget 
request for the National Intelligence Program. Critically, the national 
intelligence director will receive the appropriation for the program.
  The NID also will have parallel authority over major acquisitions 
funded through the appropriations that the NID will control.
  The NID will have the authority to transfer funds within the National 
Intelligence Program. He or she will have authority to set our 
intelligence priorities.
  The director will set standards for security, personnel, and 
information technology across the intelligence community.
  The director will also play an active role in selecting the heads of 
the key entities in the National Intelligence Program.
  Critically, the legislation requires the NID to provide intelligence 
that is independent of political considerations. To this end, the 
legislation establishes an analytic review unit to provide an 
independent and objective evaluation of the quality of analysis of 
national intelligence.
  The NID will chair a cabinet-level Joint Intelligence Community 
Council. The purpose of the council is to advise the NID on setting 
requirements, financial management, and establishing policies across 
the intelligence community.
  The council will help ensure the implementation of a joint, unified 
national intelligence effort to protect national security.
  In addition to creating the national intelligence director post, the 
committee bill also establishes the National Counter Terrorism Center. 
Currently, our intelligence agencies are not maximally integrated in 
their efforts against terrorism. The committee seeks to remedy that 
through the creation of the counterterrorism center. The center will 
have a directorate of intelligence--in essence, a national intelligence 
center to integrate intelligence capabilities against terrorism.
  The National Counterterrorism Center will also have a directorate of 
planning to develop interagency counterterrorism plans, assign 
agencies' responsibilities, and monitor implementation.
  The center's directorate of planning will concentrate on developing 
joint counterterrorism plans, meaning plans that involve more than one 
agency. Such planning will be at both the strategic level, such as 
``winning hearts and minds'' in the Muslim world, and at an operational 
level, such as hunting for bin Laden.
  In addition to these two major reforms--the national intelligence 
director and the counterterrorism center--the legislation also includes 
provisions to strengthen the FBI and transform the CIA's capabilities.
  The legislation before us is comprehensive. It is ambitious. And it 
contains the reforms that are critical to strengthening the 
intelligence community and protecting our country.
  I am confident that this overhaul of our intelligence community--the 
largest since 1947--and the pending overhaul of the Senate oversight of 
intelligence--the largest in three decades--will make our country safer 
and more secure. We have no higher responsibility to our fellow 
Americans than protecting the homeland. Our lives, our freedoms, our 
liberties are at stake.
  We have made tremendous progress in the days since 9/11. We've taken 
a hard look at our intelligence system, what it did right, where it 
went wrong. Many dedicated men and women have spent countless hours 
examining the facts and finding ways to fix the system. I am confident 
that the United States Senate will do our part to defend the homeland 
and make America more secure.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania is recognized.

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