Implementing the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission
By: U.S. Congressman Lincoln Davis

On the 63rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Congress passed historic reforms sought by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission overhauling our nation's $40 billion intelligence system. These reforms bring the first major changes in the U.S. intelligence community since the CIA was established in 1947, by better coordinating government resources so as to avoid the type of intelligence lapses that occurred prior to Sept. 11.

The 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act as it's called has done just what the title implies. The 9/11 Commission, an independent, bipartisan commission composed of ten members was created by congressional legislation and the signature of President Bush in late 2002. The commission was tasked to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11th terrorist attacks, including preparedness for and the immediate response to the attacks. The commission was also mandated to provide recommendations designed to guard against future attacks.

The legislation establishes a new Director of National Intelligence as the president's chief adviser on intelligence, with budgetary and monitoring authority over foreign and domestic intelligence activities. The commission concluded that there were severe lapses in coordination of intelligence leading up to the attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, and that the current director of central intelligence, who runs the CIA, is too focused on agency operations and does not exercise the authority needed to coordinate operations throughout the government.

Advocates of the legislation and their allies among the families of the Sept. 11th, terrorist attacks had grown frustrated by the lack of accountability within intelligence agencies. That is why the bill designates one person- a new director of national intelligence- to be accountable to the president and the American public. The new intelligence director would be responsible for ensuring each agency knows what other agencies know and for establishing a list of intelligence priorities.

The bill initiates landmark reforms to link intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security information, so that it's available to federal, state and local authorities. One of the biggest obstacles the intelligence community faces has been the lack of shared information. We need to find a way to rid our system of the status quo. Only through a truly coordinated effort between the U.S. intelligence communities and local law enforcement will our country be safer and more secure.

A package of homeland security measures to bolster transportation safety and border security were funded in the legislation. For example, the bill calls for developing guidance for a biometric identification technology to screen foreign passengers and mandates a new airline passenger screening system. Along our borders the number of patrol and customs agents will grow by two thousand per year over the next five years and requires the Department of Homeland Security to devise a plan for surveillance of the southwest border by remotely piloted aircraft.

With the passage of this legislation, we have made sweeping changes to our homeland security and intelligence operations, and have taken a further step in preventing future terrorist attacks. However, this begs the question of whether or not it is perfect. No, it isn't, but it takes needed steps to improve our ability to detect, prevent and respond to future terrorist attacks.

It is my hope and intention the implementation of this legislation will better protect our country for generations to come.

U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis represents the 4th Congressional District of Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives.