Pat Roberts

Mr. ROBERTS

Mr. ROBERTS. One Senator who is asking you some questions now would like to speak, and I would like to have 20 to 25 minutes, if that would be all right, speaking as the chairman of the Intelligence Committee. If I could have an understanding? I know you will work very hard and I know there has been a lot spoken tonight; I understand that. But I would like to speak in favor of the Specter amendment, if in fact that could be arranged, or have that understanding with the Senator.

Mr. ROBERTS. I was going to ask a question of the distinguished floor manager. I thank the distinguished Senator from Virginia for his courtesy. It is my understanding we are not going to vote on the Specter amendment as of this evening; is that right?

Mr. ROBERTS. It is my understanding we are not going to vote on the Specter amendment as of this evening; is that correct?

Mr. ROBERTS. Will the distinguished Senator yield?

Mr. ROBERTS. Do we have an idea approximately what time tomorrow morning?

Mr. ROBERTS

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I thank Senator Mikulski for her very forthright statement. Like the Senator, I understand the point raised by Senator Lautenberg and would only make two points about the notion of Porter Goss's alleged lack of independence from the administration. First, Mr. Goss sent a very candid letter to DCI Tenet, along with Congresswoman Jane Harman, who is the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, expressing deep concern about our intelligence on Iraq. That letter is not the work of a shrinking violet, I can assure you. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that letter be printed in the Record.

Mr. ROBERTS. Second, the independence issue was thoroughly explored at Mr. Goss's confirmation hearing as of this week. Mr. Goss has assured the committee--and I do believe him, knowing him for 16 years in the Congress--that he has the integrity, as Senator Mikulski put it, to look the President in the eye and say no. Mr. President, at present, it does not appear either side has a Member requesting time, so I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I yield such time to the distinguished Senator from Florida as he might consume and thank him for his contributions, not only with his strong interest in the Intelligence Committee and the leading intelligence issues and challenges we face today, but for his service on the Armed Services Committee as well, for working with me with regard to Captain Spiker and other issues. I look forward to his comments.

Mr. ROBERTS. No.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I yield as much time as he may consume to the distinguished Senator from Mississippi.

Mr. ROBERTS. I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished Senator from Utah and thank him for his service on the Intelligence Committee. Also, I thank the Senator from Mississippi for his excellent commentary, more especially highlighting Mr. Goss's independence and the fact he will be a nonpartisan DCI.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I will be happy to soon yield to the distinguished Senator from Mississippi, a valued member of the Intelligence Committee. On the issue of the HPSCI activity, the House intelligence activity, in regard to reform and other intelligence challenges during the last 3 Congresses, which has been brought up, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the Survey of Activities of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence During the 107th Congress. I also commend to my colleagues the Survey of Activities of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence during the 106th Congress and the 105th Congress.

Mr. ROBERTS. Thank you, Mr. President. I now yield as much time as the distinguished Senator from Maryland may use. I thank the distinguished Senator for her service on this committee as she always provides the committee with very candid, independent, and right-on views. I am delighted to yield time to her at this time.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, seeing no other Senators requesting time now, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues in the Senate to confirm Mr. Porter J. Goss, of Florida, to be the next Director of Intelligence. On August 10, 2004, President Bush nominated Porter Goss to be the next Director of Central Intelligence, or the DCI. In doing so, the President stated that Mr. Goss ``is a leader with strong experience in intelligence and in the fight against terrorism. He knows the CIA inside and out. He is the right man to lead this important agency at this critical moment in our Nation's history.'' The Goss nomination was received in the Senate on September 7. On September 14 and September 20, the Select Committee on Intelligence held extraordinary open hearings on this nomination that were televised and widely covered in the press. At the September 14 hearing, Mr. Goss was introduced to the committee by both of Florida's distinguished Senators, Bob Graham, former chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, and Bill Nelson, who is well known to the Intelligence Committee as an interested and informed supporter of our efforts. That both Florida Senators reached across the aisle to support this nomination is a testament to the wide bipartisan support that it does enjoy. After 2 days of thorough and wide-ranging public hearings, the Goss nomination was placed before the Intelligence Committee membership for a vote yesterday morning. In yet another impressive display of bipartisanship, the committee approved the Goss nomination and ordered it reported in a vote of 12 to 4. At this time, I would like to congratulate the Intelligence Committee members of both parties for their sober, penetrating, and thorough consideration of this nomination. The committee's handling of this nomination is very much in keeping with the bipartisan spirit that has animated its work during a very difficult year of challenges in the global war on terrorism in Iraq and in other areas around the world. This bipartisan spirit did produce important steps forward, such as the committee's report on Iraq WMD, in understanding intelligence problems and gaps and also making recommendations in that regard. As such, the committee's work will certainly help Mr. Goss as he strives to make the intelligence community better and to produce the best possible intelligence product. I want to say I also appreciate Mr. Goss's efforts during his 2 days of public hearings to respond to members' concerns and questions. He took these hearings very seriously and with attention to detail demanded by consideration for a position that has in the past been part of the Cabinet. In my opinion, during his confirmation hearings Mr. Goss showed the qualities we want to see in a good DCI. They are coolness under pressure, a willingness to look at alternative views and, very importantly, a willingness to ``take a few licks'' for past judgments. Most important of all, he demonstrated his ability to put the lawmaker's so-called partisan hat aside and take up the strictly nonpartisan duties of this critical executive branch office. As I noted at Mr. Goss's first public hearing on September 14, the role of the Director of Central Intelligence is of paramount importance to the security of this Nation. It is also one of the most challenging jobs in the executive branch today. Obviously, this Nation is currently engaged in a war not only in Iraq, not only in Afghanistan, but elsewhere around the globe. In this war, for the most part there are no trenches. There is no barbed wire. There is no well-defined no man's land. On the contrary, in this war of shadows and darkness, intelligence defines the front line and indicates its weak points and gaps. Recently, a distinguished former National Security Adviser remarked to Senators that during the last 3 years our world has changed dramatically. In the old world, the threats were posed by nation states and organized military forces. In our new world, the greatest threats may be domestic. These threats may come from nation states and their agents and terrorist groups such as al-Qaida. Organized military conflict is only one of many threats. In our new world, we are not fighting against nation states but against a network of disparate terrorist groups that operate not only in the shadows but at times right in our own midst. Whether Afghanistan or Iraq or here at home, defeating this enemy depends primarily upon the ability of our intelligence services to locate, to penetrate and, yes, to destroy the terrorist cells. We are involved in a world war which requires timely and actionable intelligence to ensure victory and the safety of the American people. The Director of Central Intelligence is personally responsible for producing this intelligence. As we fight Islamic terror, other global threats continue to menace our Nation, and among them are these: The development of nuclear programs by adversary regimes such as those in Iran and also North Korea; the steady transformation of the People's Republic of China into a power capable of challenging our interests broadly and exercising influence over the region; and the continuing worldwide expansion of WMD technology. The Director of Central Intelligence is also responsible for producing intelligence to keep the President and policymakers informed about these threats. And if that were not daunting enough, Mr. Goss has been nominated for a position which in all probability may not exist for much longer. As Senators know, the President and many in the Congress now support the creation of a new national intelligence director. There has been a great deal of discussion among my colleagues about reform. Above all, we must ensure that a national intelligence director is something more than a weak and ineffective figurehead. Most of the debate outside the Intelligence Committee has centered on how to grant increased authority to the new national intelligence director while leaving the structural status quo undisturbed. Many on the Intelligence Committee believe this is simply unworkable. In other words, significant structural change is vital to real reform. I believe strongly that we must create a new structure. This new structure must accommodate the diverse activities of our intelligence agency by giving direct responsibility and control of primary intelligence disciplines and the corresponding agencies to a truly empowered national intelligence director and his assistants. And true empowerment includes both budget authority and line authority to direct and control the activities of the intelligence activities. One without the other may leave us with an intelligence head who can neither succeed nor be held accountable, and that would be a most unfortunate outcome. We don't know how or when reform will finally be enacted. Until then, however, we need a strong Director of Central Intelligence with the necessary skills to manage a community which needs reform. Porter Goss understands these issues. As chairman of the House Intelligence Committee he helped create momentum for reform. Porter Goss will be a good man to have in the intelligence community driver's seat as Congress, in cooperation with the executive branch, goes through the consideration of major reform. His unique background will serve him well as he meets these and other challenges while directing our intelligence community. For over 40 years, Porter Goss has been serving his Nation, his State, and his community. As an Army intelligence officer, a clandestine CIA case officer, a newspaper man, a county commissioner, a U.S. Representative, and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Porter Goss has done his duty with skill, with honor, and with integrity. I believe, and Members on both sides agree, that his experience makes him uniquely suited to serve as the Director of Central Intelligence. I have known Mr. Goss personally for 16 years. I served with him in the other body, the House of Representatives. I have worked with him on a weekly basis since I joined the Intelligence Committee. I have formed a strong opinion about his fitness to lead the intelligence community. One of Porter Goss's most important characteristics is that he does not ride in a partisan posse. In that sense and in many others, the President has selected an outstanding public servant to be his principal adviser on intelligence. In concluding my opening statement on the Goss nomination, I would like to underscore an important point. If, as I earnestly hope, the Senate approves this nomination today, this body will not simply have performed a routine pro forma duty. On the contrary, Porter Goss's confirmation as the DCI represents perhaps the most important changing of the guard for our intelligence community since 1947. This confirmation represents a fresh start for our Nation's intelligence community. He will be the first Director of Central Intelligence in a new and hopefully better intelligence community. It is not the same entity that George Tenet inherited when he was confirmed by this body 7 years ago. It is not the same entity that existed on September 10, 2001. The intelligence community has undergone vitally important changes since the terrorist attacks of 2001. These changes are the result of many factors: statutory requirements, Executive orders, and other major changes in policy. That snapshot that we took of the intelligence community back on September 10, 2001, and the snapshot today is much better in terms of improvement. A key factor is the vigilance and dedication of the intelligence community rank and file, to include those men and women who, today, as I speak, are putting their lives at risk in remote and dangerous places to protect our Nation. Still other changes are on the immediate horizon as Congress considers major intelligence reform. So let us understand clearly what we do here today. Porter Goss, as the new DCI, will lead a new intelligence community into a new chapter. Senate confirmation of Porter Goss does not mean simply painting a new name on the mailbox at Langley. It represents the opening of a new era for the intelligence community. The errors and omissions of Iraq are well known. They must be corrected. Steps have been taken and will be taken to ensure that. The errors and the omissions of 9/11 are very clearly and thoroughly described in both the joint inquiry that was conducted by the Senate Intelligence Committee, the House Intelligence Committee, and the 9/11 Commission Report. These errors and omissions must and will be corrected. Porter Goss's task will be to build, inspire, and open a new chapter in our intelligence activities. We must never forget the errors of the past or their human cost. Likewise, we should not dwell on them or allow them to paralyze us. We must grapple with them and overcome them. That is what is happening now, with structural intelligence community reform. Porter Goss's task will be to open the new chapter and lead the intelligence community into that fresh start. Today, perhaps our highest legislative priority is to repair what is broken in the intelligence community. We must not let this laudable desire immobilize us. John McLaughlin, the Acting Director, has done a professional and commendable job as the Acting DCI. He, no less than the rank and file of the intelligence community, needs long-term, permanent leadership, and we need it now. One of the concerns voiced by the 9/11 Commission was that it takes too long to put key intelligence community officials into place. In the case of this nomination, I believe the Senate definitely got the message. The watch word for this nomination since the beginning has been goodwill and bipartisanship. As I stated at the beginning, Senators Graham and Nelson of Florida introduced and strongly endorsed this nominee at his first confirmation hearing. We had an impressive bipartisan vote on this nomination in the Senate Intelligence Committee. The ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, the Honorable Ms. Jane Harman, has pointed with pride to her committee's involvement in intelligence reform under Mr. Goss's chairmanship. Expressions of support for this nomination have come from both sides of the aisle and both sides of Capitol Hill. This nominee is ready to go to work and he is needed. I urge the Senate to confirm him as soon as possible. I, personally, and I think I speak for the members of the Intelligence Committee, look forward to working with Porter Goss, the next and possibly last DCI. I understand the vice chair is waiting to speak, but I ask his indulgence to permit Senator Chambliss to speak first.

Mr. ROBERTS. How much time does the Senator request?

Mr. ROBERTS. I yield him such time as he would consume.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that any quorum calls that take place during the consideration of the Goss nomination be charged equally to both sides.

Mr. ROBERTS

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, September 22, 2004, at 3:30 p.m. on ``Judiciary Nominations'' in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226. Witness List: Panel I: Senators. Panel II: Christopher Boyko, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, September 22, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. in room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct a business meeting on pending Committee matters, to be followed immediately by an oversight hearing on the Contributions of Native American Code Talkers in American Military History.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, September 22, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. on ``A review of Counter-Terrorism Legislation and Proposals, including the USA Patriot Act and the SAFE Act'' in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226. Witness List: Panel I: The Honorable Larry Craig, United States Senator, R-ID and The Honorable Richard Durbin, United States Senator, D-IL. Panel II: The Honorable James Comey, Deputy Attorney General, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Panel III: The Honorable Bob Barr, R-GA, former Member, United States House of Representatives and Daniel Collins, Esq., Munger, Tolles & Olson, LLP, Los Angeles, CA.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 22, 2004, at 2 p.m., to conduct a hearing on ``Examination and Oversight of the Condition and Regulation of the Insurance Industry.''

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee be authorized to meet on Wednesday, September 22, 2004, at 9:30 a.m., on pending committee business.

Mr. ROBERTS

Mr. ROBERTS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period of morning business, in the evening, with Senators speaking for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. ROBERTS

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I yield whatever time she may consume to the Senator from Maine.