Etheridge Calls on Republican Leadership to Pass Intelligence Reform

WASHINGTON - With Congress returning to Washington today, U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) called on House Speaker Dennis Hastert and the Republican leadership to bring up the intelligence reform bill for a vote. The conference report on the intelligence reform legislation, S. 2845, implements many of the 41 recommendations issued by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. Etheridge, the only North Carolina member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, warned that this would likely be the last chance to pass this important legislation before the next Congress.

"With the safety and security of our nation at stake, this Congress should not, must not, cannot go home without passing this intelligence reform legislation," Etheridge said. "More than three years after 9/11, these reforms are long overdue. We must not wait for another tragedy and more bloodshed to reform the intelligence system. As servants of the people, the Republican leadership and the Administration ought to put the security of the American people before petty politics. Mr. Speaker, do your duty and bring this legislation up for a vote!"

The intelligence reform legislation enjoys the support of the families of the victims of 9/11, the 9/11 Commission and the Administration. If a vote were held, the legislation would likely pass Congress overwhelmingly. However, Speaker Hastert has refused to allow a vote on the bill because of the continued objections of two Republican committee chairmen - Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-California) and James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin).

The legislation would create a National Intelligence Director to oversee the nation's intelligence work across 15 separate agencies. It would also create a National Counterterrorism Center, reform border security and implement new strategies in transportation and aviation security. To protect civil liberties, the legislation creates an independent Privacy and Civil Liberties Board as a check within the administration. Finally, this legislation would help ensure that the nation's first responders can communicate with one another through interoperable communications.