President Bush pushes for a change of the nation’s intelligence agencies

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    By Janae Ashton

    President Bush pressed Congress Monday to pass legislation which would revamp the nation”s intelligence agencies, despite the concerns of some U.S. House Republicans.

    “I call upon the Congress to pass the intelligence bill,” Bush said to The Associated Press. “It”s a good piece of legislation. It is a necessary piece of legislation. It”s a piece of legislation that is important for the security of our country.”

    Republicans are stopping the bill”s progression at this time, although Congressional Democrats told The Associated Press there are enough votes to push the bill through if Republicans will allow it. Republicans said objections could force the issue to wait until next year.

    Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said he supports the House-Senate compromise, but said “I do believe it can be improved,” according to The Associate Press.

    If the bill passed, Congress would move to create a national intelligence director position to coordinate the nation”s spy agencies and enacting other anti-terror measures.

    “I believe we”ve addressed the concerns, by far, of the majority of the members of both the House and the Senate,” Bush said during an Oval Office meeting.

    President Bush, Republican leaders on Capitol Hill and the members of the Sept. 11 investigative commission have all endorsed the intelligence bill.

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