Ruppersberger Calls on Congress to Create a Cabinet Level Director of National Intelligence

Washington, DC - Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) joined a bi-partisan group of Representatives today to call on Congress to create a Cabinet Level Director of National Intelligence. Congressman Ruppersberger believes Congress should hold hearings on H.R. 4104, the Intelligence Transformation Act, that creates an Intelligence Chief before the 3rd Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks. Congressman Ruppersberger is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

9-11 Commission Report

The 9-11 Commission Report released today found that there were systemic problem with intelligence sharing across all of the intelligence agencies. The Commission recommended that an Intelligence Chief be created to encourage better integration among the CIA, FBI, NSA, and military intelligence agencies.

Congressman Ruppersberger co-sponsored H.R. 4104 that creates a Director of National Intelligence with budget and policy authority and a direct line to the President of the United States. The bill was introduced in April, 2004, but has sat on the shelf since then.

"We do not have time to wait. We need to act now to create a Director of National Intelligence to keep our families and our communities safe. One of the best ways to honor the memories of those who lost their lives on 9-11 would be to begin holding hearings before the third anniversary of September 11th attacks just seven weeks away. The family members of the victims deserve no less!" said Congressman C.A. Ruppersberger.

Congressman Ruppersberger also applauds the hard work of the bi-partisan 9-11 Commission led by Chairman Tom Kean, the Republican former governor of New Jersey, and Lee Hamilton, the former Democratic Congressman from Indiana.

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