U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on the Judiciary
F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., Chairman
_______________________________________
News Advisory
For immediate release
Contact: Jeff Lungren/Terry Shawn
October 8, 2004
202-225-2492
House Approves “9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House today in a bipartisan 282-to-134 vote approved legislation based upon the 9/11 Commission report. H.R. 10, the “9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act,” now goes to a conference committee with the Senate to work out differences between the two bills.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.), commented, “The legislation is focused on one objective - protecting the American people in the war on terror. This bill comprehensively addresses the findings of the 9/11 Commission - even the tough and controversial ones.
“Today’s adoption of the Hostettler amendment by voice vote should also put to rest the canard that these difficult issues are too controversial to enact. Winning the war on terror and addressing loopholes in our border security and immigration efforts will not be accomplished by punting these issues to the next Congress, as the Senate bill does. I have every confidence the conference committee can reconcile the differences quickly and send to President Bush strong legislation that will significantly bolster the safety of the American public,” added Chairman Sensenbrenner.
The Hostettler amendment addresses a large problem of criminal aliens and possibly terrorists being released onto U.S. streets because of the Convention Against Torture (CAT) and U.S. court rulings. Over 500 criminal aliens - including at least one murderer and one rapist - have been granted relief under the CAT that they might be tortured in their home country. Because U.S. courts have said criminal aliens and possibly even terrorists cannot be held indefinitely in the U.S., these criminal aliens - and possibly terrorists - have been released onto U.S. streets. The Hostettler amendment allows the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to detain such individuals so they are not released into U.S. communities.
A few highlights of H.R. 10:
Creates a National Intelligence Director (NID) to head the intelligence communities
Creates a National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) as the primary organization for analyzing and integrating all intelligence
Authorizes better tools to track “lone wolf” terrorists
Cracks down on providing material support to terrorists
Improves effort to track terrorist financing
Bolsters our borders by doubling the number of Border Patrol agents from 10,000 to 20,000 over the next five years
Triples the number of ICE immigration investigators from 2,000 to 6,000 over the next five years
Prevents terrorists and dangerous criminals from being released onto U.S. streets by modifying relief avenues currently available
Plugs loopholes in our asylum system currently being exploited
Improves security standards for identity documents