[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11858-S11860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    INTELLIGENCE REFORM LEGISLATION

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I wish to make a statement with regard to 
what I regard as a truly historic point for our Nation's security as we 
complete action on the National Security Intelligence Reform Act of 
2004.
  Those people who have not been directly involved in the negotiations 
have followed it from afar and are aware that an agreement--some people 
would say a tentative agreement but an agreement--has been reached on 
this National Security Intelligence Reform Act.
  As just mentioned, it is our understanding that the conference report 
in all likelihood will be introduced and passed in the House today. The 
Senate will then address the bill and send it to the President for his 
signature.
  I extend my deep thanks and appreciation to Senators Susan Collins 
and Joseph Lieberman. Their steady leadership, their continued 
commitment, and their constant focus on passage of this bill kept the 
whole process moving forward from day one, and I will review that 
history shortly. I thank them on behalf of leadership, and America 
thanks them.
  The 9/11 intelligence bill constitutes the most comprehensive and 
sweeping reform of the intelligence community since the National 
Security Act of 1947. This bill sets into motion a variety of reforms 
that over time will greatly improve our Nation's ability to fight the 
war on terror. I thank Governor Thomas Kean and Representative Lee 
Hamilton for their dedicated leadership of the 9/11 Commission. They 
have done a truly outstanding job. Their hard work and thorough 
analysis forms the basis of the 9/11 bill.
  The 9/11 Commission's main recommendations that are addressed in this 
bill include the following: establishment of a new director of national 
intelligence who will oversee the intelligence community with enhanced 
budgetary and personnel authorities; creation of a national 
counterterrorism center that will coordinate and unify our 
counterterrorism efforts; ensure effective information sharing and 
conduct strategic operation planning; initiation of a wide range of 
other measures to improve information sharing, cooperation and 
coordination and team work between agencies in the intelligence 
community, such as the CIA and the FBI; establishment of a civil 
liberties board and authority to designate an IG; and a provision that 
will ensure that the chain of command is preserved and that statutory 
responsibilities on the heads of departments are not abrogated.
  The legislation will also improve the functioning of the FBI, enhance 
our

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Nation's transportation security, including aviation and maritime 
security; improve border and immigration enforcement; and strengthen 
terrorism prevention by tackling issues ranging from lone wolf 
terrorists and money laundering to terrorist hoaxes and people 
providing material support to the terrorists.
  The conference report also covers the role of diplomacy, foreign aid, 
and the military in the war on terrorism and addresses a variety of 
matters dealing with national preparedness such as infrastructure 
protection and communications capabilities.
  I would be remiss if I did not mention this bill also includes a 
provision I introduced on the Senate floor, the establishment of a 
national counterproliferation center. While the national 
counterterrorism center focuses on the customers and the users of these 
dangerous technologies and materials, the counterproliferation center 
will focus on shutting down the supply network and the brokers such as 
Pakistani nuclear scientist AQ Khan.
  We know our enemy is ruthless and is seeking ways to maximize harm 
against the American people. In order to stop them, we and our allies 
must detect, deter, halt, and roll back the trafficking of weapons of 
mass destruction and their delivery systems and related materials. We 
cannot allow the terrorists to get their hands on these materials. We 
know that if they do, they will endeavor to use them. 
Counterproliferation is critical to fighting and winning the war on 
terror.

  My provision gives the President time and flexibility to establish 
the center based on the findings of a commission he has looking into 
the issue of weapons of mass destruction proliferation and to make sure 
it is well integrated with this proliferation security initiative, the 
PSI.
  Just as we must take the offensive in the global war on terrorism, we 
must similarly take the offensive in stopping the proliferation of 
weapons of mass destruction. Our current nonproliferation efforts are a 
good defense but they are not sufficient. We need a strong offense. A 
new national center aggressively pursuing and coordinating 
counterproliferation is crucial. It is in the bill and will be a part 
of this legislation.
  I am gratified by the bipartisan efforts that have brought this 
reform, along with the rest of the 9/11 bill, to fruition. We will see 
that bipartisan support play out in the vote later on this floor and on 
the floor of the House most likely later today. I thank my colleagues 
on both sides of the aisle and in both Houses of Congress for their 
unflagging dedication and commitment to America's best interests.
  In July, as the Congress was preparing to recess for the summer, the 
9/11 Commission released its final report outlining the events leading 
up to the 9/11 attacks. This report identified a number of serious 
failings that required immediate action. It included an extensive 
section on recommendations to improve our Nation's security. That same 
day I discussed with the Democratic leader the urgent need for the 
Senate to act and to act responsibly and begin that action immediately.
  Senator Daschle and I immediately set the process in motion for the 
Senate to respond legislatively, and in a bipartisan manner, to the 9/
11 Commission's report, and we did just that. Given its central role in 
monitoring the organization and operations of the Federal Government, 
we asked the Governmental Affairs Committee to take the lead on this 
issue.
  Beyond the jurisdictional rationale behind this decision, the 
Democratic leader and I both had great confidence in the ability of its 
chair, Senator Susan Collins, and the ranking member, Senator Joe 
Lieberman, to forge that strong bipartisan partnership to closely 
consult with the other key committees and to deliver a bill to the 
Senate floor in a deliberate, timely, and bipartisan manner.
  To the Nation's great benefit, they succeeded. Over the August 
recess, the Congress held two dozen committee hearings. We went 
nonstop. There was no rest. There has been no break in consideration of 
this legislation since the 9/11 Commission report, even during every 
recess. Over this August recess, four committees heard testimony from a 
multiple of witnesses. We had hearings in the Governmental Affairs 
Committee, the Intelligence Committee, the Commerce Committee, and the 
Armed Services Committee. Each committee carefully examined the 
recommendations of the 9/11 report. Some prepared their own bills. 
Others had their own legislative priorities. Senators Collins and 
Lieberman then pulled all of this information and all of these 
recommendations and proposals together and brought a bill to the Senate 
floor in early October. Major sections of the bill were improved by 
adding titles taken from a separate bill drafted by Senators McCain and 
Lieberman.
  The McCain-Lieberman comprehensive bill included titles ranging from 
transportation and aviation security to foreign policy and diplomacy 
based on the recommendations proposed by the 9/11 Commission. Senator 
McCain deserves great credit for being a driving force behind the 
establishment of this Commission and for making sure the Commission's 
recommendations were considered by the Senate.
  The Collins-Lieberman bill was further improved by amendments offered 
by Senator John Warner to ensure the intelligence community's support 
for and link to the warfighter were sustained, by Senator Pat Robert to 
ensure the maximum efficiency and effectiveness of the new 
organization, and by other Members, such as Senator Jon Kyl, Senator 
Levin, and numerous others from both parties, to ensure that the Senate 
got this right.
  After 2 weeks of negotiation, debate, and amendments, the Senate 
voted 96 to 2 on October 6 to overhaul the Nation's intelligence 
community. Just after that, the Senate passed another important measure 
that, as the 9/11 Commission urged, made critical reforms in the 
Senate, this institution's oversight of the intelligence community and 
homeland security. This effort was successfully led by Senator 
McConnell and Senator Reid, and we give our appreciation and thanks to 
them.
  Today, after nearly 2 months of tough and rigorous negotiation with 
the House, long hours and long weekends poring over the legislative 
text, we stand on the verge of one of the most significant legislative 
accomplishments of this Congress. Senators Collins and Lieberman and 
their staffs have, again, served the Senate well. They made tough 
concessions, but they did so by keeping our national security front and 
center at every moment. They labored tirelessly to get this bill done. 
I appreciate their sacrifice of many hours and weekends in service to 
our country.
  Likewise, Speaker Denny Hastert has been constantly engaged in ever 
pushing Members and staff to reach a solution and to further improve 
the legislation. He has worked constantly on this bill since early 
October. Because of his leadership, Speaker Hastert has earned wide 
respect for bringing this improved bill to the House floor, and because 
of his hard work it will easily enjoy majority support.
  I must also underscore that none of this would be possible were it 
not for the superb and unflagging leadership of President Bush. His 
leadership was bold. His leadership called for meeting the greatest 
challenge of our time: fighting the war on terror. He has stressed to 
me personally, again and again, the importance of passing this piece of 
legislation. I commend the President on his steady commitment to make 
America safer. On the day of the attacks, President Bush recognized 
immediately that we were at war. Since then, he has made tough 
decisions. He has made good decisions. Every day, the President is 
following through to use the full range of our resources to combat the 
enemy.
  In the 3 years since the 9/11 attacks, we have learned much about our 
Nation's vulnerabilities, our strengths, and the steps we must take to 
protect ourselves. During this time, the President and his Cabinet have 
instituted a number of reforms, changes, and initiatives that, as the 
9/11 Commission reported, have made our Nation safer. The President 
made further refinements and reforms based on the findings of the 9/11 
Commission. Many of these, such as making the Terrorist Threat 
Integration Center more capable and enhancing the powers of the DCI, 
were undertaken by Executive order in August of this year.

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  Finally, I wish to thank the real heroes behind this bill, the 9/11 
families who pushed and persevered to get this bill done. They turned 
their personal tragedy into public action so we all could be safer. As 
public servant and fellow citizen, I salute these outstanding 
Americans.

  Strengthening America at home and abroad, moving America forward in 
pursuit of freedom and prosperity, and protecting the American people 
and our homeland--these have been the driving motivations of the 108th 
Congress. I am very proud to have been a part of this effort. I am 
proud to have had that opportunity to lead the Senate during this 
momentous time.
  There is more to do. There is much more to do. This is an ongoing 
process, and we will not rest until our enemy is vanquished. But in 
these final days, my fellow Americans can take note of and comfort in 
this historic achievement.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cornyn). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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