Cornyn Statement on President's Announcement to Create National Intelligence Director, Counterterrorism Center

CORNYN STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO CREATE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR, COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER

This will go a long way to making our country even safer than it is now, Cornyn says

WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, made the following statement Monday regarding the President's announcement to create the position of a national intelligence director and a national counterterrorism center:

"I am pleased President Bush has moved quickly to adopt two of the most fundamental reforms recommended by the 9/11 Commission, namely, creation of a national intelligence director and creation of a national counterterrorism center. Obviously, this has to go hand-in-hand with another recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, which is re-organizing congressional oversight. It is clear that Congress needs to do its job to make sure that the various intelligence agencies of the United States government are well organized, sharing information with one another and more than that, sharing information at the state and local level.

"It's important to remember that this administration and Congress have not waited for three years before taking action. Already we've created the Department of Homeland Security, we've created the Terrorism Threat Integration Center and we've passed the Patriot Act, essentially removing the wall previously prohibiting the sharing of information between law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

"This announcement by the President of a new national intelligence director and creation of a national counterterrorism center, along with strong congressional oversight, will go a long way to making our country even safer than it is now."