The US Senate on Wednesday took a major step toward reorganising the US intelligence network, unveiling groundbreaking legislation to strengthen the country's defences against terrorism.
Senator Susan Collins, Republican chairman of the Senate Governmental Reform Committee, said the bill represents "the most sweeping and significant intelligence reform in decades."
The bill draws liberally on recommendations made in July by the independent September 11 Commission, which probed the causes and possible fixes for intelligence failures ahead of the 2001 terror attacks in New York and Washington.
"The 9/11 Commission indicted the status quo in America's intelligence community and insisted on fundamental, revolutionary changes," said Senator Joe Lieberman, the top Democrat on the Governmental Affairs Committee.
Lawmakers said that in drafting the bipartisan bill, the Senate panel refined the recommendations of the September 11 panel, with input from the White House, lawmakers and leading cabinet members, and leading intelligence officials.
The Senate bill, which has the strong support of both Republicans and Democrats, seeks to modernise the outmoded US intelligence network, which was largely devised to meet the Cold War era challenges posed by Soviet Union.
"The current intelligence structure simply does not have the agility to respond to international terrorism, rogue states, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and other challenges of the 21 century," said Collins.
Collins said perhaps the most important recommendation in the bill was the recreation of a National Intelligence Director "who would have the authority to marshal the people, the money and the resources to target the threat facing our country."
The bill also would create a National Counterterrorism Center to integrate and co-ordinate intelligence between US agencies.
To counter concerns that enhancing the US spying network could endanger civil liberties, the Senate bill calls for the creation of a national board to protect the privacy of US citizens.
Lawmakers said the Governmental Affairs Committee would meet next week to discuss the bill, which could see a vote in the full Senate before the end of the month.