News Conference - The Intelligence Reform Bill
Federal News Service
HEADLINE: NEWS CONFERENCE WITH SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME); SENATOR JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D-CT); AND SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ)
TOPIC: THE INTELLIGENCE REFORM BILL LOCATION: THE CAPITOL, THE SENATE RADIO/TV GALLERY, WASHINGTON, D.C.
BODY:
SEN. COLLINS: Good afternoon.
As we begin the second week of debate on the intelligence reform legislation, we meet at a time when our nation remains under an increased threat of a terrorist attack.
This will be a critical week. This week will determine whether the Senate moves forward with much-needed significant reforms that have been carefully considered, called for by the 9/11 commission and thoroughly crafted to redesign our intelligence community to meet the terrorist threat.
Our intelligence community was designed for a different enemy and a different time. it is time for us to transform the intelligence community so that it has the agility and the capability to respond to the threats that we are facing today.
We learned from the 9/11 commission and from the intelligence failure with regard to weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that the status quo is not working. The status quo has failed us. We know that the dots were not connected, that information was not shared among the 15 intelligence agencies, that the pieces of the puzzle were not assembled before 9/11.
The legislation that is on the floor will change that. It represents the most significant reforms in our intelligence community in more than a half a century. We must act this week to finish the job.
We have produced a bipartisan bill. It's a carefully crafted bill. It's a bill that learns from the recommendations of the 9/11 commission and from the hearings that we've held. There is no reason not to move forward to pass this bill early this week. There is every reason to do so.
Senator Lieberman.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: Thanks very much, Senator Collins.
It's been a real pleasure to work with you throughout this journey.
Today begins the second week of consideration of our 9/11 legislation. I feel, as I know you do and Senator McCain does, that last week was an extremely productive week for the Senate in consideration of this bill. And the issue really have been phrased-framed.
In the first instance, we listened to our colleagues. There was some thoughtful discussion. In some cases last week and this week we accepted some amendments, which we thought would strengthen or clarify the bill.
The Senate adopted all of the amendments that Senator McCain and I introduced to implement parts of the 9/11 commission report that were not in the Collins-Lieberman legislation which, as you know, focused on intelligence reform. And those parts were as follows: provisions from the 9/11 commission that would make our borders, transportation and critical infrastructure more secure by investing in modern technologies and better identification procedures; that would promote an aggressive constructive outreach to the Muslim would to build bridges, to dry up the terrorist supply of new recruits; to improve communications among federal, state and local law enforcement, the men and women on the front lines of the war against terrorism, so they can be the nation's eyes and ears coast to coast.
We also-the Senate also rejected two amendments which would have really gutted the basic vision of the 9/11 commission and the Collins-Lieberman legislation regarding intelligence reform: one offered by Senator Specter, which would have created a whole new department of intelligence; and another offered by Senator Hollings, which would have done exactly what all the experts and the 9/11 commission warned us not to do, which is to create a title called a national intelligence coordinator but give that position no power. In each case, both the Specter amendment and the Hollings amendment, they were rejected overwhelmingly by our colleagues in the Senate.
So we begin this second week with the bill that came out of the Governmental Affairs Committee intact, strengthened by the amendments that were accepted. But that was last week and this is this week, and this week in the next day or two we will face a series of amendments which would weaken our basic recommendation in terms of the national intelligence structure. And these are going to be important votes, and I urge our colleagues to stick with us on this and do what our national security requires and the 9/11 commission recommended. This begins this afternoon with at least three votes, maybe four roll-call votes, one by Senator Byrd, another by Senator Stevens, and another by Senator Stevens. (Chuckles.) And perhaps one by Senator Warner.
SEN. COLLINS: And another. (Laughs.)
SEN. LIEBERMAN: (Chuckles.) Right.
The families of the victims of 9/11 have put out a letter this morning-which I believe you have a copy of-which states their support for our basic proposal and their opposition to the amendments that would weaken it.
As you know, the Senate leadership-bipartisan-has supported us very strongly all the way; filed a cloture petition on Friday.
We expect cloture to be invoked by tomorrow morning, and then look forward to adopting this bill in a very strong position either later Tuesday or sometime on Wednesday.
Thank you.
Senator McCain.
SEN. MCCAIN: I'm here to praise Senator Collins and Senator Lieberman for the outstanding job that they have done, beginning with a unanimous report from their committee, and now with the progress they've made. I think what they've proven is that there is a need and a requirement and a desire on the part of the American people for bipartisanship, particularly when addressing the issues affecting our war on terror. And the reason why they have enjoyed the success so far that they have in beating back these attempts to weaken the legislation and the recommendations of the 9/11 commission and protect turf, rather than act in the interests of national security, is because of the strong bipartisanship which they have displayed.
Over the past week, the Senate has made significant progress in addressing the recommendations of the 9/11 commission. The underlying bill addressed 10 of the recommendations; through amendments, an additional 27 recommendations have been addressed, and one of them is the grants issue to the various states and the formula, which is pending. And then there was one other amendment and recommendation which was basically rejected even by the members of the commission themselves. So now we have either enacted or pending 40 of the 41 recommendations made by the 9/11 commission and supported by the families, with two exceptions-excuse me -- 38, with one pending, there's two remaining, there's two remaining, and that, of course is the congressional reorganization recommendations. I think it's shameful for congressional oversight over intelligence to be termed dysfunctional by the commission, which it was. We must be committed to addressing our own failings, as we have with other recommendations.
I would quote the commission report. Quote: "The other reforms we have suggested for a National Counterterrorism Center and a National Intelligence Director will not work if congressional oversight does not change too. Unity of effort in executive management can be lost if it is fractured by divided congressional oversight."
There is a strong movement-a strong movement-now headed towards the floor of the Senate to basically maintain the status quo, and it's appropriators. There are three kinds of senators here in the United States Senate: Republican senators, Democrat senators, and appropriators. And the appropriators are desperately trying to protect their turf. And if we make no change, if we do not give this new permanent Intelligence Committee the appropriation authority that they need, then there will be no reform, and a vital part of the 9/11 commission recommendations will be neutered.
I hope that we will act, with the strong support of the commission and the commissioners, all of them, and the families to act, to give the permanent Committee on Intelligence the powers they need to provide sufficient oversight, which is a vital part of our ability or inability to prevent another attack and win the war on terrorism.
But I want to again thank Senator Collins and Senator Lieberman for the outstanding job they've done. Many predicted that they would not reach the position that they are today at the beginning of their hearings last August, and they've done a magnificent job.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: Thank you, John. Thanks for all your support.
SEN. COLLINS: (Off mike.)
SEN. LIEBERMAN: Questions?
Q Senator Collins, are you confident that -- (off mike) -- amendments today? Do you have the votes? Have you counted the votes?
SEN. COLLINS: You know, this is a very unusual bill because the votes do not fall on party lines; they fall according to which committee you serve on, what your role is in the Senate. It's an unusual situation. So --
SEN. MCCAIN: (That's ?) along the lines of what kind of senator.
SEN. COLLINS: (Chuckles.) I didn't say that, Barb. Right? (Soft laughter.)
So we have not attempted to figure out exactly where the votes lie. I am hopeful that we will be successful. Certainly we had a great start last week. Only amendments which we supported were added to the bill, and they were amendments that improved the bill. I expect that there will be additional amendments that we support added to the bill. And we've been able over the weekend to work out compromises on some amendments that were offered last week.
But it's imperative that we weaken any amendment that would undermine the authority of the national intelligence director with regard to his budget, his ability to transfer funds and his ability to transfer personnel. And that's what our focus is.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: Well said.
SEN. COLLINS: Helen?
Q If I can ask Senator McCain or anybody else wants to-why is it so important to give the Intelligence Committee appropriating powers? I mean, have there been cases in the past where there's been (an admission of ?) the problem?
SEN. MCCAIN: Well, it is an existing problem. We know that the authorizing committees have routinely had policy changes made in appropriations bills, some that have profound consequences. We also know that the power of the authorizing committees is vastly diminished because of the incredible influence and power of the purse held by the appropriators. The 9/11 commission recognized this, and that's why they strongly recommended that budgetary appropriations and authorizing authority be placed in the Permanent Committee on Intelligence.
And the-what has happened-you can ask Senator Lugar. Senator Lugar has stated a number of times that the authority and power and influence of the Foreign Relations Committee has been diminished. The power and influence, Senator Warner will tell you, of the Armed Services Committee has diminished.
I will tell you, as chairman of the Commerce Committee, the mischief that's been done in policy issues-not just money, but policy issues-by the appropriators has been incredible. We barely prevented the taxpayer from paying an additional $5.7 billion for tankers because of a line that was written into an appropriations bill that said that we would lease tankers-that's $5.7 billion-where there was criminal activity. So I can-cruise ships, $273 million we lost. I'm just talking about my own --
SEN. LIEBERMAN: Don't get him started. (Laughter.)
SEN. MCCAIN: -- you know, of ships-of ships that were built in Pascagoula, Mississippi, which would have cost the taxpayers $273 million in loan guarantees. But more importantly, policy-policy changes have been enacted on the Appropriations Committee.
Q Has this happened, though, in the intelligence area in specific?
SEN. MCCAIN: Oh, yes. Senator Lott has stated publicly about an intelligence project that was very, very expensive that was-that the Intelligence Committee decided to not continue and the Appropriations Committee just appropriated the money for.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: That's right.
SEN. MCCAIN: I mean, he-Senator Lott has publicly stated about that as an example of how the authorizers are routinely overridden by the appropriators, who don't have either the staff, the expertise or the hearings to make those kinds of decisions.
Q Senator McCain, can you elaborate a little bit more on what recommendations might be coming out of the working group that would preserve the status quo?
SEN. MCCAIN: Well, should I point out that the working group is headed by two appropriators, so it'll be very interesting to see what comes out of that. I was also told by one of the commissioners that "intense pressure," quote, unquote-and that's his quote-that's his statement, not mine-has been put on the commission to cave on this issue of the appropriators maintaining appropriations control.
Q Senator, this is --
SEN. MCCAIN: There's a lot at stake here. There's a lot at stake here.
This is a huge thing.
Q There's a lot at stake, but it's very much an insider issue. Is it hard to bring-here's my question. Is it hard to bring public pressure to bear on this --
SEN. MCCAIN: Well, the families understand it and the commissioners understand it very well.
Q But is it hard to rally constituent support, family support-in other words, tap that reservoir?
SEN. LIEBERMAN: Well, the families have spoken; I mean, they get this, from the reconstruction intelligence system of our country to the congressional oversight that the commission has recommended.
But you're right, you know, the average person doesn't follow the details of this. But it's very consequential to our national security, and that's where we have to show some leadership. And I'm grateful that the families have hung in there and they're going to continue to speak out. The commissioners have done the same. And I expect you're going to hear from them quite actively in this week as we reach the climatic votes in our consideration of these two proposals.
SEN. MCCAIN: If you were to ask members of the Intelligence Committee themselves, they will tell you that it's a very big problem-Senator Lott, Senator Kyl, Senator Graham, Senator Rockfeller-all of them will tell you that it's an issue that must be addressed if we're going to have an effective intelligence oversight.
Q Senator Collins, I know you're not -- (off mike) -- do you have a core number of people who you can count on to vote against both what the Armed Services-type people are trying to do and what the appropriations intelligence people are try to do?
SEN. COLLINS: Yes, we do. I think you saw in the committee that we did not have a single vote that fell along party lines, but we had a shifting coalition that allowed us to beat back every single amendment that we opposed. I hope that will happen on the floor. But I don't underestimate the challenge. There are a lot of people who do not want any change. There are a lot of people who believe that if they delay consideration by filing countless amendments that we will go home without doing anything. And if we do not complete action on this legislation, I will predict right here and now that it will never pass, if we delay until next year.
So I think it's absolutely critical that we finish the job this year. And I hope and believe that there'll be a majority of senators who share our view.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: Senator Collins, again-obviously, again, she and I totally agree on this. These are amendments that are being introduced by senior members of the Senate. I mean, in fact, basically the leadership of either the Appropriations Committee or the Armed Services Committee. And you have to give that some weight in this process.
But I believe we've got the arguments on our side because of the case that the 9/11 commission has made about how the status quo failed us on 9/11 and will fail us again.
I mean, look, and this is an ongoing crisis.
Last week, Zawahiri, second to Osama bin Laden, again issued a tape urging Islamist terrorists around the world to attack the United States of America. We have got a story about the inability of the FBI to translate tapes that they've got because they don't have enough Arab translators. Senator Roberts came to the floor-chairman of the Intelligence Committee-and spoke about the fact that in a briefing, here again, within the last few weeks, two elements of the intelligence community totally not only disagreed with each other, but didn't know that the other was taking the position they were taking.
We desperately need this. And that's why, though I don't underestimate at all the opposition, those who want to put in weakening amendments, I'm optimistic that we're going to carry these amendments.
And I'm encouraged in this by the support of our bipartisan leadership. This is a special moment in the history of this particular session of Congress. Senator Daschle, Senator Frist filed that cloture petition together. Senator Frist, Senator Daschle have said together: Senators, we're not going home until we get this done. And therefore, I think we're going to get it done and it's going to be strong.
Q You're talking about finishing this bill this week.
SEN. COLLINS: Mm-hmm.
SEN. MCCAIN: Hopefully by tomorrow night.
Q Tuesday, Wednesday.
SEN. COLLINS: Mm-hmm.
Q The House also is talking about finishing its bill Tuesday, Wednesday.
SEN. MCCAIN: Yeah, because we filed cloture.
Q Are you already trying to make strategies for a conference committee? Because their bill is completely different from what you're trying to do.
SEN. COLLINS: Senator Lieberman and I have had discussions with some of the key House members. For example, Congressman Hoekstra and Congresswoman Harman have met with us three times, I think, to start talking about some of the issues that we would confront in conference.
I would also note that they changed the bill that had been introduced by Speaker Hastert to more closely reflect some of the language that we have in the bill.
I believe this can be done. I hope that we can complete action this week. If not, then I think we could complete action in October and come back later this month for a day to vote on the conference report. But the ideal is to try to complete action in the entirety this week. And yes, we are having conversations.
STAFF: One more question.
SEN. MCCAIN: May I just point out that I have never in all the time I've been here, when cloture is voted on-and I believe cloture will be voted, there's-I think there's 60 votes-that within a matter of hours, there wasn't final passage. Everybody says, "Well, they got 30 hours." Well, each senator only has one hour each, so it's not quite as easy to delay for an additional 30 hours. And after cloture is voted, most people think let's move on.
Q Is this something high on the list of voters? Are you hearing from constituents on this? And will lawmakers in close elections maybe go home and -- (off mike)?
SEN. COLLINS: Absolutely. The people of the United States over and over again have indicated that terrorism is a top concern. It would be irresponsible for us to go home for the year without doing everything we can to make our country safer. I think constituents understand this very well. They want us to act and they want us to act together in a bipartisan way.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: Absolutely right.
Q Thank you.