GOP Squandering Opportunity for Significant Intelligence Reform

Pelosi: GOP Squandering Opportunity for Significant Intelligence Reform

Democrats Pledge to Introduce Bill in January If Not Passed in Lame-Duck Session

Washington, D.C.-House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the failure of the Republican Congress to pass a 9/11 intelligence reform bill:

"This weekend will mark 100 days since the independent 9/11 Commission made unanimous, bipartisan recommendations calling for urgent change. Yet because the President has been disengaged in the efforts to finalize a 9/11 intelligence bill, he has enabled House Republicans to stall this vital legislation.

"President Bush and House Republicans have failed to make America safer and are squandering the opportunity for significant intelligence reform.

"House and Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans on the conference committee have all worked hard to craft a bipartisan bill, but have been blocked at every turn by the obstruction of House Republicans. Because of the House Republicans' stubborn refusal to listen to the families of those lost on 9/11, I am not optimistic that we will be able to pass this bill during the lame-duck session next month.

"If this Congress does not pass a bill, Democrats will schedule the bipartisan Senate intelligence reform bill on the first day that the next Congress convenes in January. This legislation is too critical to the security of the American people to allow Republican failures to prevent it from being passed it into law."