[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 18701-18702]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          INTELLIGENCE REFORM

  Mr. FRIST. Another quick update on our progress along reform in terms 
of our intelligence operations, both within the Senate and outside the 
Senate with regard to the executive branch. The markup in the 
Governmental Affairs Committee has begun, with the leadership of 
Senator Collins and Senator Lieberman. Senator Daschle and I had 
directed that committee in late July to appropriately respond with 
legislation to the 9/11 Commission recommendations. The committee's 
legislation, as has been presented and is being marked up, does just 
that. I assume that process will go on over the course of the next 
several days. There will be amendments and modifications on issues such 
as the national intelligence director and how much authority will be 
given the national counterterrorism center. The bill tracks very 
closely with the plans and decisions that have been put forward by the 
9/11 Commission, although we have learned a lot since even that 
Commission report has been written, and also with plans put forth by 
the White

[[Page 18702]]

House. All of that is being considered by that committee.
  Next week we will be bringing this to the Senate floor for a full 
debate. It has been a very thoughtful process. The 9/11 Commission 
report came out in late July. We in this body have gone nonstop through 
late July, August, and now September, building on the foundation of 
really 2 or 3 years of work where we have looked at reform and 
appropriate organizational reorganization.
  As the Democratic leader and I mentioned, October 8 is when we will 
be leaving, and it would be our objective, with the will of the Senate, 
to be able to complete the legislation before that time.
  The other arm that Senator Daschle and I addressed by establishing a 
vehicle through which it could be addressed is the whole issue of what 
we do inside this body in terms of organizational reorganization to 
oversee the intelligence operations by the executive branch and the 15 
intelligence agencies. That task force has met several times, both at 
the staff level and at the Member level. I know they have more meetings 
planned for this week.
  The goal would be for them to come up with specific recommendations 
for leadership to improve our oversight functions.
  So a lot is going on. As we set out, the real focus of this month or 
this period of time since the recess and until October 8 is the safety 
and security of the American people. We are working in a bipartisan way 
to do just that.
  One last thing, the Senate Intelligence Committee will favorably 
report out Porter Goss shortly and the entire Senate will be able to 
confirm him this week. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, it is 
important to do so. It only makes sense that we have the post of 
Director of Central Intelligence be filled at this important time. 
Porter Goss is a highly capable man and leader, with a strong 
background and a lot of experience in intelligence matters. He will be 
able to lead the intelligence community through this period of reform.
  There is a lot going on today in Washington and on the Senate floor, 
with the appropriations process, with intelligence organization and 
reorganization. We have now a little over 2 weeks to complete a very 
full agenda but one that the American people deserve and on which we 
will deliver.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________