The Hindu : International : Intelligence reform Bill cleared

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 10, 2004

International

International

Intelligence reform Bill cleared

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, DEC. 9. The U.S. intelligence reform Bill finally cleared Congress with the Senate voting it 89 to 2 and sending it to the President, George W Bush. Prominent lawmakers who voted against the Bill were Democrat Robert Byrd and Republican James Inhofe even as several Senators expressed reservations on various aspects of the intelligence overhaul.

"I am for intelligence reform and many things in this Bill but we cannot expect reforms without closing these gaps in illegal immigration," said Mr. Byrd. The security provisions relating to immigration were finally taken out of the Bill and would be introduced in the House of Representatives on the first day of Congress.

One of the main aspects of the Bill is that it creates the post of a National Director for Intelligence. Mr. Bush has agreed to give the new Director full budget authority as desired by Congress and the same kind of access that a Cabinet Secretary has.

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