Dayton Reporter

The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has announced a bipartisan review of the 9/11 Commission Report recommendations. The initiative, led by Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR) and Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-CT), will be chaired by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) serving as co-chair. The review comes as the nation approaches the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

The committee will spend the next year assessing progress on intelligence-related recommendations from the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, whose report was released in July 2004. The review aims to identify gaps or areas for improvement in how these recommendations have been implemented. Public and closed events, hearings, and briefings are planned, culminating in a report with findings and actionable suggestions before the anniversary.

Since 9/11, significant changes have taken place within U.S. intelligence operations, including establishing the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which has improved coordination and information sharing among agencies.

Chairman Crawford stated, “The attacks on 9/11 fundamentally altered the security posture of the United States and the way we engage in the world. 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.”

Ranking Member Himes added, "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. 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.”

Chairwoman Stefanik commented, "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. It is important that the intelligence community is equipped to counter terrorism over the next 25 years amid a quickly evolving landscape.”

Congressman Gottheimer said,“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.”

Mike Turner currently serves as U.S. Representative for Ohio’s 10th district after succeeding Tony P. Hall in 2003; he has held this position continuously since then (https://turner.house.gov/about). Turner was born in Dayton in 1960 where he continues to reside (https://turner.house.gov/about). He holds degrees from Ohio Northern University (BA), Case Western Reserve University (JD), and University of Dayton.

For more information about this announcement or related news coverage see New York Post.