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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, in remembrance of the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR) and Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-CT) announced the establishment of a bipartisan HPSCI review of the 9/11 Commission Report recommendations, to be chaired by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and co-chaired by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ).
In solemn remembrance of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the United States, this review will evaluate the progress made on the intelligence-related recommendations made by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States in The 9/11 Commission Report, released in July 2004, and identify possible gaps or areas of improvement. Over the next year, the Committee will hold events, hearings, and briefings, both public and closed, to inform a report of findings and actionable recommendations that will be released in the days leading up to the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. This review will examine both the current status of the IC’s adoption of the Commission’s recommendations, as well as how the IC is equipped to counter the threats the United States will face over the next 25 years.
While the threat landscape has evolved significantly and U.S. adversaries differ from those faced during the Global War on Terror, this effort is rooted in an act of bipartisan remembrance of the most devastating attack on U.S. soil and in the spirit of refusal to become content with the posture of our Intelligence Community.
In the nearly 25 years since 9/11, the United States has taken significant steps to address the gaps and weaknesses in this posture, most notably with the establishment of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). ODNI has brought drastic changes and improvements to U.S. national security by creating a more defined clearinghouse for coordination and information sharing within the IC. While many of these changes have been positive, the 25thanniversary of 9/11 presents a key moment in time to look back and evaluate how the Commission’s recommendations have been implemented and identify opportunities for improvement to ensure the IC is optimally postured for the next 25 years.
“The attacks on 9/11 fundamentally altered the security posture of the United States and the way we engage in the world,” said Chairman Crawford. “In the dark days following the devastating attack on U.S. soil, we watched Americans come together in unimaginable ways and we pledged never again to allow a failure of intelligence to compromise our national security. As we mark the 25thanniversary of one of the darkest days in U.S. history next year, we must ensure our intelligence community and its capabilities remain one step ahead of our rapidly evolving adversaries. While the threats look different today, the mission remains the same: we can never allow a failure to connect the dots to result in catastrophe ever again.”
"We are still reckoning with the aftermath of 9/11— both in Connecticut where so many lost neighbors, friends and family members, and as a nation whose belief in our own security was deeply shaken," said Ranking Member Himes. "Twenty-four years later, we continue to honor the victims by doing all in our power to prevent future attacks and keep Americans safe. In the years following the attacks, the Intelligence Community underwent substantial reorganization. I look forward to a rigorous bipartisan review of the intelligence community’s progress since 2001, and the opportunity to identify additional areas for improvement.”
"Today, as a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee and a proud New Yorker, I am honored to announce that I will chair the bipartisan House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence review of 9/11 Commission Report to evaluate the progress made on the intelligence-related recommendations," said Chairwoman Stefanik. "It is important that the intelligence community is equipped to counter terrorism over the next 25 years amid a quickly evolving landscape.”
“Twenty-four years after 9/11, we are still living with its aftermath — especially in New Jersey, where we lost hundreds of loved ones, friends, and first responders. The pain of that day has never faded, and neither has our responsibility to honor the victims by preventing future attacks and keeping Americans safe,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).“In the years since, following the 9/11 report, we have made critical improvements to our intelligence and homeland security systems. But, our work remains unfinished. I will continue working across the aisle to ensure that we remember the lives lost, support the families of victims, and strengthen our nation’s defenses against terrorism.”
Read more in the New York Post here.
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