Senate Hopes to Get Intelligence
Bill Passed:
Lawmakers agree to several demands from House members
WASHINGTON — Senators on Monday gave in to several House demands on compromise legislation dealing with the September 11 commission's anti-terrorism recommendations, including keeping the intelligence budget secret, increasing border security forces and banning aliens who have been trained by terrorist groups.
"We hope that the House will embrace our offer and move forward with us to send an intelligence reform bill to the full Congress and to the president's desk before the end of the year," said Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Joseph Lieberman, D-Connecticut, leaders of the Senate negotiators.
However, House and Senate conferees still are nowhere close to full agreement.
"We're happy that they've given us an counteroffer and our committees are examining it closely right now," said John Feehery, spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois.
The House and Senate have been working on trying to get compromise legislation based on the 9/11 commission's recommendations since August. (Voters not responding to intelligence reforms)
President Bush reiterated last week that he wanted Congress "to pass an effective intelligence reform bill that I can sign into law." (White House urges intelligence bill changes)
Lawmakers and advocates had hoped to agree to something for President Bush before the election, but talks stalled while trying to merge the two bills. (Aides: Reforms won't pass by election)
The Senate voted overwhelmingly for a bill that gives strong authority to a national intelligence director. The House does that, too, but it also gives the government new anti-terrorism and border security powers and increases penalties for illegal immigration.
Collins and Lieberman said senators agreed to some of the House's suggestions, including increasing the number of border security officers and banning from the United States aliens who participated in overseas torture or killings and foreign officials who ordered or participated in genocide or severe violations of religious freedoms.
The senators also gave in on the House's insistence that the intelligence budget stay secret, which Collins and Lieberman called "a major compromise on their part." (House, Senate to iron out 9/11 bill)
Feehery called it a "positive sign" that the Senate had made a counteroffer.
House and Senate leaders will return next week for a post-election session, where negotiators hoped to have something ready for lawmakers to vote on.
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