September 16, 2003

HARMAN PRAISES ADMINISTRATION ACTION TO CONSOLIDATE TERRORIST WATCHLISTS

- Harman and others had earlier recommended action announced today -

Washington, DC - US Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-California), the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, praised today's Administration announcement that it will consolidate terrorist watchlists and provide 24/7 operations support for federal screeners and other law enforcement agencies across the country and around the world.

"Since 9-11, I and other Democrats have repeatedly recommended the Administration develop a comprehensive watchlist to help all relevant agencies keep terrorists out of our country", said Harman, who most recently underscored the importance of a consolidated watchlist in her radio response to the President's Saturday September 13 radio address.

"Today's announcement finally begins to implement this critical recommendation to enhance our homeland security."

An April 2003 General Accounting Office study reported that nine federal agencies maintain 12 different lists of suspicious individuals. But with each different list comes the potential that an agency will miss a suspected terrorist and allow their admission into the United States or, if they are already in the US, release them should they be detained for other reasons.

"A consolidated watchlist, and the establishment of the Terrorist Screening Center, means that all government law enforcement agencies will be able to run name checks against the same list with the most accurate, up-to-date information about potential terrorists," said Harman. "Had this action been in place prior to 9-11, we may have been able to disrupt the plot by denying entry to or detaining would be hijackers."

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