For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryDecember 8, 2004

I commend the Congress for passing historic legislation that will betterprotect the American people and help defend against ongoing terrorist threats.

We already have taken numerous steps to improve our intelligencecapabilities, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004further strengthens intelligence gathering and operations. The legislationincludes important reforms, such as creating a strong Director of NationalIntelligence with full budget authority to integrate and manage the foreign anddomestic activities of the Intelligence Community. In addition, the law willfurther enhance the National Counterterrorism Center, established earlier thisyear and tasked with ensuring a unified effort across the government forcounterterrorism activities. It will also preserve the chain of command in ourCabinet departments and agencies and the military by respecting the clear linesof authority within the Executive Branch.

We remain a Nation at war, and intelligence is our first line of defenseagainst the terrorists who seek to do us harm. I am pleased the measure alsocontains many critical law enforcement tools that I have called for that willhelp make America more secure. I look forward to signing this landmark piece oflegislation into law.