Baldwin Says Improvements to Security Being Delayed:
GOP Leaders Condemed
For Using Bill As Political Tool
WASHINGTON D.C. (Oct. 8, 2004) - Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is criticizing the House Republican leadership for injecting politics into the recommendations of the 9/11 commission, and passing a bill designed to undermine the commission’s recommendations.
“The bipartisan 9/11 Commission issued a unanimous report calling for changes to our nation’s intelligence system, and the U.S. Senate acted nearly unanimously to implement those recommendations. Unfortunately, the House Republican leadership decided to play politics with our nation’s security by injecting divisive issues, unrelated to the Commission’s work, into this bill”, Baldwin says.
On Thursday evening, Baldwin voted for an amendment, authored by Rep. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) (see below), which would have advanced a bill consistent with that passed by the Senate, and which was supported by the 9/11 commissioners and the 9/11 families. That effort was defeated on a nearly party line vote.
“Had the House adopted the 9/11 commission’s recommendations, it would have been possible to send the bill to the White House before Congress leaves Washington, DC for the election recess,” Baldwin said. “As a result of this action, improvements to our nation’s security are being delayed merely for political advantage. That is outrageous.”
House Republican leaders blocked an effort to bring a bipartisan alternative to the floor which would have implemented the 9/11 commission’s recommendations.
Today (Oct. 8), the House considered the GOP leadership bill—which made substantial changes to the recommendations of the commission. Baldwin voted against that bill.
Summary of Menendez Substitute
The Menendez Substitute is supported by the 9/11 Commission, the 9/11 families, and is very similar to the bill adopted by the Senate on a 96-2 vote. The Menendez Substitute fully implements the 9/11 Commission recommendations.
The Menendez Substitute implements critical recommendations not fully addressed by H.R.10:
- National Intelligence Director. Like the 9/11 Commission's recommendations, the Menendez substitute creates a strong National Intelligence Director (NID), with broad budgetary and personnel authority. The NID would have budget execution authority for the National Intelligence Program. The NID would also have the authority to transfer personnel within the National Intelligence Program.
- National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). Like the 9/11 Commission's recommendations, the Menendez substitute creates a strong National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) – headed by a strong Director. Under the substitute, the NCTC Director is appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and directs and controls the NCTC staff.
- Securing Nuclear Materials. Like the 9/11 Commission's recommendations, the Menendez substitute mandates strengthening the Nunn-Lugar programs, the Proliferation Security Initiative, and other nonproliferation assistance programs to secure nuclear materials in Russia and around the globe.
- Budget for Intelligence Agencies. Like the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, the Menendez substitute provides that the overall amount of money being appropriated for national intelligence and to its component agencies should no longer be kept secret.
- Relations with Muslim World. Like the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, the Menendez substitute mandates the creation of a long-term strategy to win the struggle for ideas in the Muslim world, including providing much larger resources for television and radio broadcasting to the Arab world. It also authorizes $200 million for a Middle East Partnership Initiative to encourage economic development and the rule of law in Arab countries.
- Prioritize Efforts in Afghanistan. Like the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, the Menendez substitute provides for much more extensive U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, including authorizing an additional $2.8 billion in FY 2005 and continued assistance to Afghanistan through FY 2009 for education, health, security and economic development programs.
- Aviation Security. Like the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, the Menendez substitute requires the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) to improve explosive detection capabilities and requires that all high-risk passengers at airports be screened for explosives.
- Border Security. Like the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, the Menendez substitute replaces the current patchwork of border screening systems with an integrated screening system, with one set of standards – thereby significantly improving border security. This integrated screening system would also apply to the transportation sector and access to vital facilities, such as nuclear reactors.
- Civil Liberties Board. Like the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, the Menendez substitute creates a government-wide Civil Liberties Oversight Board to review the use of intelligence powers and act as a watchdog for civil liberties concerns.
- Information Sharing. Like the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, the Menendez substitute requires the President to create an information sharing network – a new trusted network with common standards for information use set by the NID. The network is designed to improve information sharing within the intelligence community and with additional personnel as appropriate. The substitute requires the improved use of information technology to create and implement this network.
- Communications for First Responders. Like the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, the Menendez substitute includes provisions to provide radio spectrum for first responders to communicate during emergencies. Specifically, the substitute mandates the transfer of radio spectrum for public safety purposes no later than January 1, 2007.
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