(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray voted to reform our nation’s intelligence services as the National Intelligence Reform Bill passed the Senate by a vote of 89-2. The bill must now be signed by the President.
Senator Murray released the following statement:
“I strongly support this vital intelligence reform bill. The 9-11 Commission worked incredibly hard to identify how to better protect our country from terrorism and gave us an excellent roadmap to protect our people.
“I especially want to commend the September 11th families who bravely stood up and spoke out in favor of creating the commission. They forced our government to fully examine the terrorist attacks and to find ways to make our people safer. Their brave advocacy has made a difference, and this bill is a fitting tribute to their loved ones.
“As a member of both the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee and the Senate’s 9-11 Working Group, I’ve looked closely at these challenges. Over the past few years, I’ve worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security, including the Coast Guard, FBI, TSA, Border Patrol, as well as the National Guard and local law enforcement throughout Washington state. Through our work together, I have learned first hand the difficulties they face every day in defending our country.
“We need clear direction for our country’s intelligence community. The commissioners stressed better coordination between the various intelligence agencies, and this bill accomplishes that and so many other important goals. I’m glad that in the same bipartisan spirit that the 9-11 Commission showed throughout their work, we in Congress were able to work through our differences to pass this most important reform bill.
“Unfortunately we have passed strong legislation to protect the homeland since September 11th only to see the President fail to seek adequate funding to achieve our shared homeland security mission. We must fund our intelligence and homeland security efforts to ensure the promise of these efforts become a reality.
“Today’s action is an important step toward achieving a truly integrated national effort in the global war on terror, and I look forward to implementing it to make the entire country is safer.”
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