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Tierney Hails Intelligence Bill as A Step in the Right Direction

Date: June 22, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Government Operations


Tierney Hails Intelligence Bill as A Step in the Right Direction

Calls for Establishment of Civil Liberties Board to Ensure Intelligence Efforts Operate within the Law

Representative John F. Tierney (D-Salem), the only New England Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today calls for continued efforts to strengthen U.S. intelligence capabilities, while also protecting civil liberties. On Tuesday, June 21, 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (H.R. 2475) by a vote of 409-16.

During consideration on the floor of the House of Representatives of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 Congressman Tierney said:

"The best intelligence oversight begins with looking at the 9/11 Commission's recommendations for reform of Congress's intelligence committees. We still need to do a considerable amount of work there concerning how those committees will be formulated and what budgetary appropriation authorities will be within what body. We need renewed oversight, and the [House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence] Subcommittee on Oversight that has been formed and mentioned earlier is an improvement. Its time would be well spent if we ensure that the DNI [Director of National Intelligence] and the DNI office is set up largely in line with Commission recommendations. We do not need another sprawling bureaucracy. It will be well-served to have a streamlined executive staff that utilizes existing agencies and moves forward on that basis. And it has to have the authority to ensure that the network agencies are reformed, coordinated, and effective. It also needs the authority to make sure that we have the appropriate budgetary and personnel powers within the DNI to work.

The DNI should follow the recommendation of the blue ribbon commission to establish a Civil Liberties Board and ensure that it effectively protect civil liberties, even as we make sure aggressive intelligence measures are pursued. This tool is essential to maintain public trust. As important as it is to require that we use taxpayer money wisely, it is every bit as essential that our intelligence agencies operate within the law."

http://www.house.gov/tierney/press/intell62205.shtml

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