FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Russ Levsen 202-226-4449
HOUSE PASSES INTELLIGENCE REFORM
Herseth Praises Bill as Bipartisan Victory for the Safety of the American People
December
6, 2004, Washington, DC – Rep. Stephanie Herseth today praised the passage
of the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Implementation Act as a victory for
the safety and protection of the American people. The bill overhauls our
intelligence agencies and institutes reforms in a broad range of other
areas, including border security, aviation security, maritime security,
emergency responders, public diplomacy, and law enforcement.
"Today, finally, Congress voted to make America safer. I am pleased that
the House has finally put aside partisan and turf battles to do what's right
to ensure the protection of the American people," Herseth said. "This bill
is long overdue, and I am proud to vote today to strengthen our nation's
first defense against terrorism."
As recommended by the 9/11 Commission, the bill will create a Director of
National Intelligence; establish a National Counterterrorism Center to
coordinate and unify all elements of counterterrorism operations planning;
and provide for an independent Privacy and Civil Liberties Board.
Herseth noted that the bill preserves the vast majority of the
recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. She said, "The 9/11 Commission was
a truly bipartisan organization that operated with the best interests of the
country in mind, and I am pleased that we preserved the major
recommendations included in their report, including the establishment of a
strong Director of National Intelligence."
Herseth also praised the bipartisan commission for reaching a consensus on
intelligence reform, while expressing concern that the bill was almost
killed by partisan considerations before even reaching the floor. "We need
more bipartisan efforts like this in Washington, and I'm pleased that we
were able to overcome the politics that threatened this bill and do the
right thing for the American people," Herseth added.
# # #
