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| December 04, 2004 | |||
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SENATORS COLLINS AND LIEBERMAN RELEASE STATEMENT REACTING TO PRESIDENT'S WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS
Senators Applaud President for Efforts to Pass Intel Reform Bill |
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WASHINGTON, DC-- Senators Susan Collins and Joseph Lieberman, who are the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the authors of the Senate version of the intelligence reform legislation, are praising President Bush for his efforts on the intelligence reform legislation. Intelligence reform was the topic today of the President's weekly radio address.
Reacting to the President's radio address, Senators Collins and Lieberman said, "We are pleased with the President's strong commitment to passing intelligence reform legislation that will make our nation safer. He shares our views and that of the 9-11 Commission about how this is best accomplished." The Senators added, "We are also pleased that he has endorsed key provisions of the bill, and is working so hard to ensure that Congress votes on this historic legislation when it returns to Washington next week for a lame duck session. We share his hope that the bill passes next week so that he can sign it into law before the end of the year." In his radio address the President said, "The legislation I support preserves the existing chain of command, and leaves America's 15 intelligence agencies, organizations, and offices in their current departments. Yet the director of national intelligence will oversee all of America's intelligence efforts to help ensure that our government can find and stop terrorists before they strike. To be effective, this position must have full budget authority over our intelligence agencies. The many elements of our intelligence community must function seamlessly, with an overriding mission: to protect America from attack by terrorists or outlaw regimes." The President reaffirmed his commitment to the bill saying, "I will continue to work with the Congress to reach an agreement on this intelligence bill. I urge members of Congress to act next week so I can sign these needed reforms into law." The text of the President's radio address is as follows: Saturday, December 4, 2004 RADIO ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Since the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, American military forces, intelligence officers, and law enforcement officials have defended our country with skill and honor, and have taken the fight to terrorists abroad. Here at home, we have created the Department of Homeland Security, strengthened our defenses, and improved the collection and analysis of vital intelligence. Yet we must do more. To protect America, our country needs the best possible intelligence. The recommendations of the 9/11 Commission chart a clear, sensible path toward needed reforms to our government's intelligence capabilities. I strongly support most of those recommendations, and my administration is already implementing the vast majority of those that can be enacted without a vote of Congress. In August, I established the National Counterterrorism Center, where all the available intelligence on terrorist threats is brought together in one place. Just last month, I issued two directives instructing the FBI and CIA to hire new personnel, and to press forward with the transformation of these agencies to meet the threats of our time. But other key changes require new laws. For the past few months, I have been working with the Congress to produce an intelligence reform bill that will make America more secure. Congress made good progress toward a strong new law. Provisions have been included to strengthen our ability to arrest those who aid and train terrorists, to hold dangerous terrorists who are awaiting trial, and to prosecute those who seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction. The most important provisions of any new bill must create a strong, focused new management structure for our intelligence services and break down the remaining walls that prevent the timely sharing of vital threat information among federal agencies and with relevant state, local, and private sector personnel. Our intelligence efforts need a director of national intelligence who will oversee all of the foreign and domestic activities of the intelligence community. The legislation I support preserves the existing chain of command, and leaves America's 15 intelligence agencies, organizations, and offices in their current departments. Yet the director of national intelligence will oversee all of America's intelligence efforts to help ensure that our government can find and stop terrorists before they strike. To be effective, this position must have full budget authority over our intelligence agencies. The many elements of our intelligence community must function seamlessly, with an overriding mission: to protect America from attack by terrorists or outlaw regimes. I will continue to work with the Congress to reach an agreement on this intelligence bill. I urge members of Congress to act next week so I can sign these needed reforms into law. We have made great progress against the terrorists who seek to harm our nation. We are safer, but we are not yet safe. The enemy is still plotting, and America must respond with urgency. We must do everything necessary to confront and defeat the terrorist threat, and that includes intelligence reform. By remaining focused and determined in these efforts, we will strengthen the safety of our citizens and defend our nation from harm. Thank you for listening. |
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340 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510