[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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