U.S. SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY

The Senate by a voice vote this afternoon approved a bipartisan amendment to the National Intelligence Reform Act (S. 2845) offered by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) that would establish greater oversight of the FBI’s foreign language translation unit.  Leahy, the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Grassley, a senior member of the panel, which has oversight jurisdiction over the Department of Justice (DOJ), have worked together on a number of FBI reforms over the years, most recently focusing on the foreign language translation program.  Their amendment was offered in response to a recent report from DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) revealing major problems within the translation unit, including a backlog of thousands of hours of conversations of terrorist targets, security problems, and systemic difficulties, among others. Questions about the unit raised by Leahy and Grassley more than two years ago were the impetus for the OIG audit.  The amendment clarifies and expands upon the existing requirements that the Attorney General report to Congress on the translation unit.  Leahy’s statement, delivered on the Senate floor this afternoon, is below.]

Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy
On The Translator Reports Act Amendment
To S.2845, the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004

October 6, 2004

Mr. President, last week the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General released an unclassified version of its Audit of the FBI’s Foreign Language Program.  The report shows that despite concerns expressed for years by some of us in Congress and by former FBI contractors, among others, and despite an influx of tens of millions of dollars to hire new linguists, the FBI foreign language translation unit continues to be saddled with growing backlogs, systemic difficulties, security problems, too few qualified staff, and an astounding lack of organization.   

What is the use of taping thousands of hours of conversations of intelligence targets in foreign languages if we cannot translate the material promptly, securely, accurately and efficiently?   The Administration owes Congress and the American public an explanation as to why it has repeatedly failed to take the necessary steps to fix these serious intelligence failings.    

Almost three years ago, Congress required the Attorney General to report upon where the FBI translators program was failing and how he was going to fix it.   The Attorney General has never submitted that report.    

To make sure that the report is delayed no more, and to respond to the Inspector General’s recommendations, I want to call up my amendment number 3945, the Translator Reports Act of 2004.  I am proud to be joined in this effort by Senator Grassley, my friend from Iowa, who has been ever-vigilant in FBI oversight issues.   

Our amendment requires the Attorney General to submit a report on FBI translators within 30 days of enactment of the National Intelligence Reform Act.  It also adds further reporting requirements that will be crucial to understanding whether or not the FBI is capable of fixing, and has fixed, the problems outlined by the Inspector General.   

This report will allow Congress to meet the 9-11 Commission’s directive that Congress exercise greater oversight over the counterintelligence and counterterrorism needs of the Executive branch.  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it.  

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