Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

 “It took us far too long to implement the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, but I’m pleased with the final result,” Cardoza said.  “This comprehensive legislation addresses our nation’s most significant weaknesses.”

Among the specific provisions of the intelligence reform bill are:

Director of National Intelligence

As recommended by the 9/11 Commission, the conference agreement creates a strong Director of National Intelligence (DNI), who will head the Intelligence Community; serve as the principal intelligence adviser to the President; and direct the implementation of the National Intelligence Program.  At the same time, the agreement leaves the country’s 15 intelligence agencies in their current departments.

National Counterterrorism Center

As recommended by the 9/11 Commission, the bill establishes a National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) within the Office of DNI to coordinate and unify all elements of counterterrorism operations planning.  Like the Senate bill, the NCTC will be led by a strong director, who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate and who directs and controls the NCTC staff.

Privacy and Civil Liberties Board

As recommended by the 9/11 Commission, the bill establishes an independent Privacy and Civil Liberties Board that will be granted access to all government agencies to review policies and practices, and will be led by a Chair and Vice Chair confirmed by the Senate.

Information Sharing Environment

In order to better “connect the dots,” as recommended by the 9/11 Commission, the bill requires the President to establish an Information Sharing Environment to facilitate the timely sharing of vital threat information among federal agencies and with relevant state, local, and private sector personnel.

FBI Restructuring

The bill contains several important provisions restructuring the FBI’s intelligence capability, including the creation of an Intelligence Directorate within the FBI; requiring an intelligence workforce dedicated to intelligence discipline; and requiring intelligence personnel in FBI field offices.

National Preparedness

The bill contains several provisions to enhance national preparedness, including providing help to emergency responders, enhancing public safety communications interoperability, and requiring the development of a strategy so that broadcast spectrum is available for public safety purposes.  It also promotes the adoption of voluntary standards for private sector preparedness.  

Foreign Policy

The bill contains a number of provisions concerning the relation between the U.S. and key Middle Eastern and South Asian countries to improve the manner in which the U.S. conducts its foreign relations.  This includes provisions to improve U.S. public diplomacy, exchange, and economic development programs in order to build good will and promote democracy and prosperity in the Middle East.

Aviation and Maritime Security

The conference agreement contains numerous provisions that are designed to improve the nation’s aviation and maritime security, including the following:

• Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and implement a strategy for transportation security
• Requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to begin checking airline passengers’ names against federal terrorist watch lists (a task currently performed by the airlines)
• Authorizes $150 million annually to fund the installation of explosives-detection equipment at airports
• Authorizes $100 million for research and development into next-generation explosives-detection equipment for airports
• Requires the DHS to develop biometric identification technology to regulate access to secure areas of airports
• Requires development of air defense systems for commercial aircraft against shoulder-fired missiles
• Authorizes $83 million to hire more air marshals and offer air marshal training to other law enforcement officers
• Requires research on the development of blast-resistant cargo and baggage containers
• Requires TSA to develop better technologies for air cargo screening and to finalize its air cargo regulations
• Requires the DHS to implement a system for screening the names of passengers and crew of cruise ships docking in the U.S. against federal terrorist watch lists

Border Security

The conference agreement also contains numerous provisions that are designed to improve the nation’s border security, including the following:

• Requires testing of new technology, including sensors, video, and unmanned aerial vehicles to secure northern border
• Requires the DHS to devise a plan for systemic surveillance of the southwest border by remotely piloted aircraft
• Increases the number of full-time border patrol agents by 2,000 per year for 5 years
• Increases full-time Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigators by 800 per year for 5 years
• Increases detention beds available to DHS for immigration detention by 8,000 a year for 5 years
• Strengthens visa application requirements
• Denies entry to aliens who have committed atrocities abroad and also makes them deportable
• Criminalizes alien smuggling

Terrorism Prevention

The conference agreement also contains numerous provisions to better enhance terrorism prevention, including the following:

• Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to cover “lone wolf” terrorists, with a sunset provision
• Provides new authorities to fight terrorism financing
• Enhances tracing of certain cross-border financial transactions
• Focuses on improving the analysis and sharing of information on terrorist travel
• Calls for the accelerated deployment of a biometric identification entry and exit system that would help verify the identities of individuals entering the leaving the U.S.
• Requires the establishment of nationwide minimum standards for driver’s licenses and ID necessary to board domestic commercial aircraft and gain access to federal facilities
• Allows sharing of Grand Jury information to government officials to prevent or respond to terrorism
• Criminalizes providing “material support” to terrorism
• Criminalizes possession or trafficking of Weapons of Mass Destruction and prohibits bail
• Criminalizes possession or trafficking in missile systems designed to destroy aircraft