December 7, 2004
Washington, D.C. — Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, applauded today’s House passage of S. 2845, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Protection Act of 2004. The bill passed by a vote of 336-75, and will now be sent to the Senate for a vote tomorrow.
“The intelligence system in our country has been in place for over 40 years, and it’s long past time to overhaul a structure that has become dysfunctional,” said Eshoo, D-Palo Alto. “A stronger intelligence community will make us safer from threats to our national security and less vulnerable to terrorists.”
“Eight months ago, I was an original cosponsor of and introduced H.R. 4104, comprehensive intelligence reform legislation which the 9/11 Commission used in formulating its own recommendations. I’m pleased that the Conference Report before us contains many of the provisions in our bill, including:
- “The creation of national intelligence centers, including a center focused on counterterrorism and one on weapons of mass destruction;
- “Strong authorities for the new Director of National Intelligence;
- “Personnel management reforms modeled on Goldwater-Nichols Act changes to the Defense Department to create a joint culture within the intelligence community; and
- “Mandates for an information sharing environment for counterterrorism linking intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security information, including common standards for security clearances and classification procedures.”
“No one can guarantee that terrorists will not strike us again, but with this legislation we are taking strong steps to prevent future attacks,” Eshoo said. “The intelligence system in our country is broken, and the American people expect us to fix it.”
“This legislation is supported by the President, the congressional leadership of both parties, the 9/11 Commission, the families of the victims of 9/11, and the American people,” Eshoo said. “These reforms are overdue and I’m pleased that the House has acted to respond to the threats facing our country. I hope the Senate will act quickly and send this bill to the President’s desk.”
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