Intel Overhaul Highlights
By Ken St. Onge
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2004 -The intelligence overhaul bill that the Senate sent to the White House Wednesday includes these major provisions:
. Establishes the post of director of national intelligence to oversee and coordinate intelligence gathering across the government, including the FBI and the CIA and some, but not all, military intelligence agencies;
. Creates a National Counterterrorism Center, under the office of the national intelligence director, to plan intelligence and counterterrorism operations. Regional National Intelligence Centers and a National Counterproliferation Center would also be created;
. Sets national standards for driver’s licenses and other government-issued identification cards;
. Mandates that the Homeland Security Department develop plans for using “biometric” information (such as fingerprints or facial features) to identify individuals;
. Instructs the President to institute an “information-sharing environment” to inform relevant agencies of new information about terrorist activities;
. Authorizes the Transportation Security Administration to begin testing a new pre-screening system for airline passengers by Jan. 1 and develop a similar system for cruise ships. The agency must also develop an enhanced cargo-screening system within eight months;
. Encourages the Treasury Department to work with international groups to promote improved standards for halting terrorist-financing and money laundering.
###
