Congressman Cole Votes for Legislation to Increase Security
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole voted for legislation that will make extensive and comprehensive changes to our current intelligence operations to help keep our country safe and secure. The 9/11 Commission Implementation Act (H.R. 10) passed in the House today, 282-134.
"This legislation makes many changes to our intelligence operations based on the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. While taking every suggestion that will help improve our national security, this legislation also preserves the things that are working well," Congressman Cole said.
H.R. 10 covers five main areas: intelligence reform and integration; terrorism prevention and prosecution; border security and terrorist travel; international cooperation and coordination; and government restructuring.
"September 11, 2001 changed the way we look at security. It showed that we have weaknesses and vulnerabilities. It showed us that we need to work harder to make sure terrorists do not have another opportunity to strike our country. This legislation will help make our country stronger. It helps the members of our intelligence community do their jobs more efficiently and effectively. And, it encourages our country to work with other nations to capture terrorists and those who harbor them," Congressman Cole said.
H.R. 10 will create a National Intelligence Director (NID) who serves as the head of the United States Intelligence Community. The National Intelligence Director will ensure that appropriate agencies and departments have access to and receive all-source intelligence support needed to carry out their own missions as well as to perform independent, competitive analysis. The legislation will make it harder for terrorists to secure financing and mandates better safeguards in the financial industry against financial fraud by terrorists and criminals.
"The President and Congress take the security of our country very seriously. This is not the beginning of our efforts to keep our country safe and it is certainly not the last," Congressman Cole said.
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