News Release - Etheridge Praises House Passage of Intelligence Reform Legislation

Etheridge Praises House Passage of Intelligence Reform Legislation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington), the only North Carolina member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, today praised final House passage of intelligence reform legislation, S. 2845. The conference report on the intelligence reform legislation, which passed by a vote of 336 to 75, implements many of the 41 recommendations issued by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. Etheridge called the legislation a long overdue step toward modernizing our intelligence systems to deal with the ongoing threat of terrorism.

"I am proud to vote for this legislation today to reform our intelligence, improve our preparedness and make our nation safer," Etheridge said. "On the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, it is fitting that Congress should act to defend our country from future attack. These reforms are urgently needed and long overdue to modernize our intelligence systems so that we are equipped to face the ongoing threat of terrorism."

The intelligence reform legislation has been supported by 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. Final passage of the legislation was delayed by Republican leadership 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.