9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act

[Guest Bill Harold]

Call your Congressmen to support the National Security Intelligence Improvement Act of 2004 - The Act establishes a National Intelligence Director (Director) to, among other things: (1) serve as the head of the intelligence community (IC); (2) act as principal adviser for intelligence matters related to national security; and (3) manage, oversee, and direct the execution of the National Intelligence Program (formerly the National Foreign Intelligence Program). Establishes a National Intelligence Council to produce national intelligence estimates for the U.S. Government and evaluate the collection and production of intelligence by the IC.

 

Establishes a National Counterterrorism Center to: (1) analyze and integrate all U.S. intelligence pertaining to terrorism and counterterrorism; (2) conduct strategic operational planning for counterterrorism activities; and (3) ensure that intelligence agencies have access to and receive all intelligence needed to accomplish their missions.

 

Establishes a: (1) Civil Liberties Protection Officer; and (2) Joint Intelligence Community Council.

 

Authorizes the: (1) Secretary of Defense and the Director to jointly establish a program to advance foreign languages skills in languages critical to the capability of the IC to carry out U.S. national security objectives; and (2) assignment of IC personnel as language students. Requires the Director to conduct a pilot project to establish a Civilian Linguist Reserve Corps.

 

Establishes the National Security Agency Emerging Technologies Panel to advise the Director on the research, development, and application of existing and emerging science and technology advances, advances in encryption, and other topics.

 

Stop Terrorist and Military Hoaxes Act of 2004 - Provides criminal and civil penalties for false information concerning terrorist activities and military hoaxes.

 

Material Support to Terrorism Prohibition Enhancement Act of 2004 - Provides criminal penalties for: (1) receiving military-type training from a foreign terrorist organization; and (2) providing material support to terrorism.

 

Weapons of Mass Destruction Prohibition Improvement Act of 2004 - Expands the jurisdictional bases and scope of the prohibition against weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Includes chemical weapons within the definition of WMDs. Provides criminal liability for participation in nuclear and WMD threats against the United States.

 

Money Laundering Abatement and Financial Antiterrorism Technical Corrections Act of 2004 - Provides additional funding to combat crimes involving terrorist financing.

 

Criminal History Access Means Protection of Infrastructures and Our Nation - Requires the Attorney General to establish and maintain criminal history information checks for use by employers.

 

Provides for the use of biometric technology in airport access control systems. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to prepare and update a transportation security strategic plan for defending aviation assets. Provides for: (1) next-generation airline passenger screening systems; (2) the deployment and use of explosive detection equipment at airport screening checkpoints; and (3) a pilot program to evaluate the use of blast-resistant cargo and baggage containers.

 

Requires the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to establish a: (1) comprehensive intelligence program for FBI intelligence analysts and intelligence production, sources, and operations; and (2) national security workforce of agents, analysts, linguists, and surveillance specialists.

 

Increases the number of full-time border patrol agents and immigration and customs enforcement investigators. Provides: (1) for expedited deportation of alien terrorists and supporters of terrorism; (2) minimum documentation requirements and issuance standards, for Federal recognition purposes, for driver's licenses, identification cards, and birth certificates; and (3) measures to enhance the privacy and integrity of social security numbers. Establishes within the State Department an Office of Visa and Passport Security.

 

Requires specified reports concerning terrorist sanctuaries, including a priority list of countries providing such sanctuaries.

 

Afghanistan Freedom Support Act Amendments of 2004 - Provides for the coordination of assistance to Afghanistan for various freedom support activities, and requires a long-term U.S. strategy with respect to such country. Authorizes assistance for counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan. Outlines provisions concerning appropriate U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

 

Requires the President to pursue international diplomatic and cooperative efforts to limit the availability, proliferation, and transfer of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) (individual-fired surface-to-air missiles).

 

Commends the use of multilateral organizations for fighting terrorist financing. Establishes an International Terrorist Finance Coordinating Council.

 

Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2004 - Authorizes grants to improve first responder capabilities and to establish essential capabilities for emergency preparedness.

 

Provides for congressional oversight over the Department of Homeland Security. Establishes an Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement.

 

Requires public financial disclosure with respect to certain IC employees.

 

Authorizes the FBI Director to establish an FBI Reserve Service for the temporary reemployment of former FBI employees during periods of emergencies. Revises security clearance requirements and procedures.

 

Federal Agency Protection of Privacy Act of 2004 - Requires Federal agency rulemakings to take into consideration rule impacts on individual privacy. Requires the establishment of chief privacy officers for agencies with law enforcement or antiterrorism functions.

 

Mutual Aid and Litigation Management Authorization Act of 2004 - Authorizes: (1) mutual aid agreements for utilities and services support during an emergency or public service event; and (2) litigation management agreements for limiting legal action against emergency response providers. Calls for adoption of the National Incident Management System.

 

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should regularly assess the adequacy of the United States Northern Command to respond to all military and paramilitary threats within the United States.

 

CALL Your Representative TODAY. Before it is too late.

[Natalia1974]

Hi Bill,

It is good to see the Message Boards are still active. I thought they would die down after the election.

 

How can a few conservative Republican's kill a bipartisan effort to reform the nation’s intelligence community after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, failed this weekend. Lawmakers were sent home Saturday without voting on the legislation, a move that has been criticized by many republicans and democrats alike.

 

Every day we wait gives another day for Osama to strike!!!

[Luke_Wilbur]

Hi Natalia,

I have not seen you on the boardz for awhile.

 

For some reason this is not getting the media attention it deserves.

 

But here a good snipet I got from USA Today

 

A formidable group of House Republicans, led by Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter of California and backed by Gen. Richard Myers and the rest of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has two major arguments against giving up some of the Pentagon's control. One is that the czar's budget powers would affect which technologies get developed over the coming years, possibly at the expense of combat troops, who need the fastest and most technologically advanced satellite reconnaissance help they can get.

 

But Hunter's and his allies' chief argument is that sharing power with a civilian czar would undermine the military's ability to get intelligence to frontline troops — particularly satellite intelligence, such as communications intercepts and fresh photos of enemy positions.

 

Here is a quote from Chairman Hunter

 

“I look forward to working with the Senate as we reform the nation’s intelligence infrastructure. “The outcome we reach will affect the security of Americans for generations to come. It is extremely important that we get this right and not just seek to accommodate the election season.”

 

Here is a snipet from CBS

Mr. Bush personally lobbied House Republicans and told reporters Sunday that "it was clear I wanted the bill passed.'' But Sensenbrenner and House Armed Services Committee chairman Duncan Hunter spoke against the bill in a House GOP meeting Saturday afternoon, forcing Speaker Dennis Hastert to pull it.

 

Here is the latest release from House Speaker Dennis Hastert

Duncan was concerned that the proposed reform could endanger our troops in the field who use real-time intelligence to fight the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have asked our conferees to go back to the negotiating table to make absolutely certain whatever we do, we protect our war-fighters.

 

“The greatest example of cooperation we have today is between our troops on the ground and our intelligence assets in the air. We must take every precaution to insure that when we reform our Intelligence agencies, we do so in a way that protect our troops and protects our citizens.

 

We will keep working on this. We will not adjourn sine die. We will ask the negotiators to keep working. We will ask the President to get personally involved. And we will get a bill that will reform our intelligence agencies while protecting our war-fighters.”

 

Here is a photo of House Speaker Dennis Hastert