Equip Our Intelligence Community to Fight Against Terrorists

Democrats want to strengthen our intelligence gathering and provide the oversight necessary to keep Americans safe. For the first time in 28 years, Congress failed last year to pass the Intelligence Authorization Act, a "must pass" piece of legislation. The bill languishes again this year. This legislation guides the intelligence community, providing the necessary resources for the intelligence community, improving Congressional oversight of our nation's intelligence, and ensuring effective interrogation methods. As the Republican Congress stalls, vital intelligence operations are on hold. The Real Security Act includes the Intelligence Authorization Act because passage of this act is critical to our Nation's security.

Providing the Intelligence Community with the Necessary Funding. Funding our intelligence community should be a top priority. The Real Security Act provides all the funding for the intelligence community for the next year, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), so the men and women of our intelligence community can continue their critical work on the front lines of the war on terror.

Providing the Intelligence Community with the Necessary Tools and Capabilities. Specifically, the Real Security Act includes funding for important tools and capabilities, including: funding for new language capabilities in key Middle Eastern and Asian languages; funding for the CIA's overseas facilities to win the fight against Al Qaeda and capture and kill Osama bin Laden; and funding to improve paramilitary capabilities, information sharing databases, and innovative technologies and platforms to collect intelligence on weapons of mass destruction and terrorism targets.

Improving Congressional Oversight of Our Nation's Intelligence. The congressional intelligence committees play an important role in overseeing the nation's intelligence activities. Unfortunately, the Bush administration has undermined oversight and stalled in providing information on these matters to the Congress. The Real Security Act requires the intelligence community to respond to such requests no later than 15 days after the request has been made. In addition, this legislation would require all members of the congressional intelligence committees be briefed regarding intelligence activities, rather than only to a limited number of policymakers, as it stands now.

Ensuring Effective Interrogation Methods to Win the War on Terror. Reports of Administration political appointees designing detention and interrogation practices based on shaky legal reasoning have undermined America's influence and power in the world and proven counterproductive in the war on terror. The Real Security Act requires the Director of National Intelligence to submit to the congressional intelligence committees a comprehensive report on the intelligence community's compliance with the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005. It also requires a report on clandestine detention facilities for individuals captured in the war on terror. Finally, this legislation establishes an Inspector General, who will serve as an independent watchdog to ensure that the intelligence community acts within the law.

» The Real Security Act of 2005
» Implement the 9/11 Commission Recommendations
» Refocus on the War on Terror
» Protect Our Transportation Systems
» Equip Our Intelligence Community to Fight Against Terrorists
» Change the Course in Iraq
» Provide Better Tools to Bring Terrorists to Justice