Testimony was heard today from FBI and CIA officials who have primary responsibility for creating the new organization, called the Terrorist Threat Integration Center, and Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
"The most fundamental question to be asked today is: How will the Integration Center be an improvement over our existing intelligence structure? We currently have a Counterterrorist Center within the CIA tht has access to all government intelligence relating to terrorism," said Senator Collins. "Another important question is how will the Center share appropriate information with state and local authorities, our front-line troops in the war on terror? It is one thing to analyze intelligence information well, but if the people who need the intelligence don't receive it, then the effort has been of little use."
Senator Collins also addressed the issues of privacy and legal concerns. "The President's proposal places the Director of Central Intelligence in charge of the Integration Center. In that position, he will be responsible for the analysis of domestic as well as foreign intelligence. I understand that the Administration has reviewed the legal issues carefully, but I want to ensure that the Center's activities will not infringe upon the Constitutional rights of American citizens."
Witnesses at today's hearing were:
Pasquale D''Amuro, Executive Assistant Director for Counterterrorism, Federal Bureau of Investigation;
Winston Wiley, Associate Director of Central Intelligence for Homeland Security, Central Intelligence Agency;
and The Honorable Gordon England, Deputy Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.
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