COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS FOR 109TH CONGRESS ANNOUNCED;
SENATOR PAT ROBERTS (R-KS)TO CONTINUE AS INTEL CHAIRMAN
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senate Majority Leader
Bill Frist (R-TN) today announced Republican committee memberships for
the 109th Congress. Senator Pat Roberts will continue as the Senate
Select Committee on Intelligence’s Chairman.
Senator Roberts said, "I am pleased and honored that the Leader has
entrusted me with this continuing responsibility. We must continue to
improve our nation's ability to collect and analyze reliable
intelligence information. I see the Senate Select Committee on
Intelligence playing a critical role in that effort especially in light
of the changes made by the recent intelligence reform bill. The
Committee will actively oversee the implementation of the reforms and
also hold confirmation hearings on a number of new intelligence
officials. I intend to continue the Committee's involvement in all
facets of our Intelligence Community including the newly created
position of Director of National Intelligence. It is also my strong
desire to keep politics out of the Committee and its oversight. The
Committee is a valuable tool that is most effective when it is focused
on intelligence issues and not on political issues."
Senator Roberts was scheduled to depart the Intelligence Committee
after completing an eight-year term. Late in the year, however, the
Senate repealed the Committee's term limits in response to a 9-11
Commission recommendation. Members of the Committee now serve without
limitation as they do on other so-called "A" committees. In a change
also enacted this year, Majority Leader Bill Frist was granted the
authority to name the Chairman of the Committee. Today, the Leader
tapped the Kansas republican to remain at the Committee's helm.
Senator Frist also announced that all but one member, Senator John
Warner, will be returning as members of the Committee. Senator Warner
will assume the status of an ex officio member under the changes made
earlier this year.
|
