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U.S. Senator Calls for Greater White House Involvement in Effort to Reach Final Intelligence Reform Bill By Mike Nartker WASHINGTON — A key Senate negotiator yesterday called for greater White House involvement in congressional efforts to develop a final intelligence reform bill creating a national director of intelligence (GSN, Nov. 1). Spurred by the release this summer of the Sept. 11 commission report, which recommended the creation of a national director to oversee the entire U.S. intelligence community, lawmakers had hoped to have a final bill ready for signature before the Nov. 2 elections. The process has been delayed, though, by disputes between House and Senate negotiators over several of the outstanding differences in the two bills, including what level of budgetary authority the new director should have over most U.S. intelligence agencies. Currently, the defense secretary controls about 80 percent of intelligence funding. The Senate proposal would provide the new national intelligence director with broader budgetary authority than would the House version. During an appearance on CBS’ Face the Nation, Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-Maine), who co-wrote the Senate legislation, called on the White House to become “much more engaged” in the efforts to create a final intelligence reform bill. She praised President George W. Bush for calling on Congress last week to complete a final intelligence bill when it reconvenes next week for a “lame-duck” session. “I'm very optimistic, given that the president listed it as one of his top priorities for the lame-duck session, that the White House will help us resolve these issues,” Collins said. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) also said on Face the Nation that Bush needed to become more involved in the negotiations on a final bill “in order to get it across the finish line.” Collins reiterated yesterday the need to provide the new national intelligence director with a significant degree of budgetary authority. “Only then will he or she be able to marshal the funds, the people, the resources necessary to counter the threats that we face.” The White House, along with the Sept. 11 commission, has backed the level of budget and personnel authority for the national intelligence director envisioned in the Senate bill. Late last month, however, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers sent a letter to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) stressing the need for the Pentagon to have a large role in intelligence funding. Collins said yesterday that she was “convinced” that Congress could finish work on an intelligence reform bill during the lame-duck session. “We all want a bill, we’re going to have to compromise on both sides, but I’m convinced that we can do it in the lame-duck session,” she said. Hagel said yesterday, though, that a final bill alone would not be enough to adequately reform the U.S. intelligence community. “The American people need to understand that somehow, once we pass a bill and the president signs it, we flip a switch and the world becomes safer, that’s not gong to happen. It doesn’t happen that way. This is a cultural process, and good people in every organization are required,” he said.
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