Military

DATE=06/20/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS HOMELAND SECURITY (S)

NUMBER=2-291224

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S lawmakers say they support President Bush's proposal to create a cabinet-level Homeland Security Agency, but they are voicing concerns about a key aspect of the plan. They made their concerns known to Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge, who testified Thursday on Capitol Hill, as correspondent Deborah Tate reports.

TEXT: Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan was one of several lawmakers at a Governmental Affairs Committee hearing who said Mr. Bush's plan to reorganize homeland security does little to encourage information sharing among U-S intelligence agencies.

/// LEVIN ACTUALITY ///

There is no accountability here. If the F-B-I does not share information with you, you do not know about it. If the C-I-A does not share information with the F-B-I, the F-B-I does not know about it.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Ridge defended the decision to exclude intelligence agencies from the new department, but said they would be required to share crucial information needed to stop terrorist threats.

Congress is investigating intelligence lapses including reports the F-B-I and C-I-A did not share intelligence about potential terrorist activity prior to the September 11th attacks. (Signed)

NEB/DAT/SAB