Last week, Congress approved a bill that will change the way the U.S. is protected. After much debate, the House of Representatives passed the bill on Tuesday by a vote of 336 to 75. The next day, the Senate passed it by a vote of 89 to 2. The bill will become a law after President George W. Bush signs it.
The new law will restructure the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other agencies that gather intelligence, or information, about people and countries that could threaten the U.S. The law also establishes a new director of national intelligence, who will report to the President. The director will oversee the nation's 15 spy agencies and make sure they work together. Other changes include strengthening security at the nation's borders, improving baggage screening procedures at airports and giving new antiterror tools to law enforcement agencies. Critics say that the new rules weaken the rights of citizens.
The intelligence bill reflects the findings of the 9/11 commission. The commission's report, re-leased last July, concluded that the CIA, the FBI and other agencies need to cooperate more.
President Bush praised Congress for passing "historic legislation that will better protect the American people."