Tuesday, December 07, 2004 Contact: Sean Oblack (202) 225-4176 Schiff Amendments Included in 9/11 Commission Bill Congress Approves Local Lawmaker’s Amendments to Prosecute Nuclear Smugglers Under RICO, Provide Tougher Penalties for Making “Dirty Bomb” WASHINGTON, DC – The final version of the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Implementation Act (S. 2845) includes important provisions authored by Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-29): One amendment gives law enforcement a powerful new tool to crack down on smugglers of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by making chemical, biological and nuclear materials trafficking an offense subject to the racketeering laws (RICO).  Another amendment by Schiff establishes a new offense with strong penalties for illegally developing a radiological “dirty bomb.” Congressman Schiff also offered amendments that were adopted in the House Judiciary Committee to implement the nonproliferation recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.  Similar language was included in the final version of the bill passed by the House today. The 9/11 Commission bill creates a National Counterterrorism Center, a Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and a bipartisan Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, improves aviation, border and maritime security, and enables government agencies to efficiently share critical intelligence.  However, while the bill directs the President to create a National Counterproliferation Center to prevent the spread of WMD, far more must still be done to prevent terrorist groups from acquiring chemical, biological and nuclear materials. Congressman Schiff released the following statement in regard to the bill’s passage: “I am pleased that Congress has finally come to an agreement on sweeping and necessary intelligence reforms.  While these reforms should and could have been enacted months ago, Congress has now established an effective framework to rebuild our intelligence-gathering and assimilation capability.  The adoption of my amendments on nonproliferation are a start, but far more remains to be done to avoid the prospect of nuclear terrorism.  In the beginning of the new session, I will be introducing an omnibus nonproliferation bill to more comprehensively deal with this danger.” The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks released its findings and recommendations on July 22, most prominently advocating the creation of a National Intelligence Director within the Executive Office of the President to oversee all intelligence-gathering functions.  S. 2845 is the result of months of debate over how to implement many of their recommendations. Congressman Schiff is the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of both the House Judiciary and International Relations committees.  He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City. - 30 -