WASHINGTON, DC—Senator Susan Collins, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, today met in her Washington office with General Michael Hayden, President Bush’s nominee to head the CIA. Following the meeting, Senator Collins said this:
“General Hayden and I had an excellent meeting. He is a fine public servant, and I am pleased he was nominated for this critical position. While I will reserve final judgment until after the hearing process has been completed, I believe he is highly qualified for the position for which he has been nominated.
During their meeting, Senator Collins discussed with General Hayden recent news reports that disclosed an NSA program whereby telephone calling patterns of Americans within the United States were analyzed. Senator Collins said: “Our intelligence agencies must aggressively and vigorously pursue terrorists who want to do us harm. And they must be provided the tools to do so, including the use of surveillance programs. But the administration must be more forthright with Congress about these programs so we can exercise our oversight responsibilities. These surveillance programs should also be subject to the confines of law to ensure oversight and judicial review.
“The Administration should come to Congress with its proposal for how the antiquated FISA law should be modernized to reflect today’s threats and technological capabilities.”
Senator Collins first met General Hayden in 2004 when she authored the intelligence reform legislation and sought Hayden’s input. She said that she was impressed with his candor and willingness to provide advice forthrightly and directly.
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