By Donna Smith
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Republican
leaders unveiled sweeping legislation on Friday that they said
reflects Sept. 11 commission recommendations for reforming U.S.
intelligence operations.
But critics said their proposal for a new national intelligence
director would have far less authority than the panel suggested and
raised concerns that some law enforcement and immigration provisions
could bog the measure down.
The bill also includes far-reaching proposals on law enforcement,
immigration, border security and foreign policy, going beyond
legislation the Senate is to consider next week.
"Our bill is the most comprehensive effort yet introduced that
deals with the problems uncovered by the 9/11 Commission," said
Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican.
"We wrote this bill to make sure that we have the best interests
of the American people and the security of the American people at
heart," he added. "We want to do the things that we must do to catch
terrorists and keep terrorists from attacking the American people."
Among dozens of provisions of the House bill is a measure that
would make it easier for government agents to conduct
surveillance of terrorism suspects who operate with no clear
connection to foreign groups.
Republican aides said the House proposal would establish a new
national intelligence director post to oversee U.S. intelligence
operations with extensive authority over budget matters. But the
Pentagon, which now controls about 80 percent of the roughly $40
billion intelligence budget, would maintain significant control.
About a half dozen House committee chairmen have been involved in
writing the bill and those panels are scheduled to act on the
measure next week. Hastert said the full House would consider the
bill during the first week of October.
"It's our intent to have this bill done before the election,"
Hastert said.
LITTLE INPUT BY DEMOCRATS?
House Democrats complained they were allowed little input.
"Instead of acting in a bipartisan manner, the Republican
leadership is introducing a bill, written behind closed doors, that
attempts to score partisan points and goes far outside the
recommendations of the 9/11 Commission," House Democratic Leader
Nancy Pelosi of California
With national security a major issue in the presidential and
congressional campaigns, House and Senate leaders are pushing to
clear legislation before Nov. 2.
The commission that investigated the 2001 attacks on the World
Trade Center and Pentagon found "deep institutional failings" in
U.S. intelligence agencies, including a failure to share information
that might have prevented the attacks.
It is unclear whether final legislation can be passed before Nov
2, with only a few weeks left before lawmakers break for some
last-minute campaigning.
Differences between the House and the Senate about the new
national intelligence director's authority over the budget and
personnel and the Pentagon's power would have to be worked out
before a bill can reach the president.
"This is a fairly weak bill," a Democratic aide said of the
intelligence reform proposals. "It is seriously deficient from what
the Sept. 11 commission wanted."
He said a counterterrorism center proposed by House Republicans
would also be weaker than envisaged by the Sept. 11 commission or
the proposed Senate legislation.