Udall Supports Creating National Intelligence Director

08/02/04

UDALL SUPPORTS CREATING NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR

(Westminster, CO) - Congressman Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs) released the following statement in response to President Bush's announcement today supporting the establishment of a national intelligence director and a national counterterrorism center:

"I'm pleased that the President has moved quickly to support the establishment of a national intelligence director and implementing a key recommendation of the 9-11 Commission. Having a national intelligence director makes sense to me, and I agree that placing this person in the White House would jeopardize the independence that this position requires.

"The Commission's recommendations should be above partisan politics-even in an election year - and I certainly pledge to do all I can in Congress to work with the administration to implement recommendations that make our country more secure. In this regard, better collection and coordination of our nation's intelligence is critical to combating terrorism and creating a cabinet-level position with broad accountability is an important step forward.

"I'm pleased that the President has agreed to implement a number of other 9-11 Commission recommendations, including hiring and training more people to collect intelligence and making public information on intelligence funding levels. The President's announcement today also includes some steps not recommended by the commission, so I will have to review them carefully, just as I am still studying the many findings and recommendations in the commission's 600-page report.

"While some necessary steps have been taken to make our nation safer, we are still facing tremendous risks and challenges. Congressional leaders should find time in the remaining days of the session to act on some of these recommendations; there is no issue more important than protecting America from another terrorist attack."