Jarrett falsely claimed Republican intel reform bill implemented 9-11 Commission recommendations

FOX News Channel anchor Greg Jarrett falsely reported that the U.S. House “implement[ed] the 9-11 Commission's recommendations on homeland security” by, among other things, “giving law enforcement new powers and curbing illegal immigration.” In fact, the House rejected the bill that the 9-11 Commission favored, and the law enforcement and immigration provisions included in the House bill -- which was written exclusively by the House Republican leadership -- were not part of the commission's recommendation.

In a regularly scheduled news break during the October 8 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, Jarrett reported:

JARRETT: The House is taking the 9-11 Commission's advice. It has now passed legislation to implement the commission's recommendations on homeland security. That includes giving law enforcement new powers and curbing illegal immigration. The House and the Senate must now negotiate a compromise version if they want to get it to the president before Election Day.

While the Senate passed a bipartisan version of the 9-11 Commission's recommendations (S. 2845) on a 96-2 vote on October 6, the House rejected a version of that bill (H.AMDT.785 to H.R. 10) on a 203-213 vote the following day -- with Republicans overwhelmingly voting “no.” Instead, the House passed a Republican version of the intelligence and homeland security reforms (H.R. 10) on October 8.

The House version of the bill endows the newly created position of national intelligence director with less budget and personnel authority than provided in the Senate bill, which the 9-11 Commission strongly favored. The New York Times reported on October 9:

The [House] bill, adopted 282 to 134 ... would establish the job of national intelligence director, a central proposal of the Sept. 11 commission. But the intelligence director would have significantly less authority over budgets and personnel than the commission recommended or than the Senate bill sets forth. ... The leaders of the bipartisan commission enthusiastically supported the Senate bill, which was adopted Wednesday on a 96-to-2 vote with none of the partisanship evident in the House. The commission leaders had urged House members to use it as a model.

Moreover, contrary to Jarrett's suggestion, the law enforcement and immigration provisions were not part of the commission's recommendations. The Washington Post reported on October 10: “Although the [House] bill includes some recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission, it contains immigration and law enforcement provisions not requested by the panel.”

The 9-11 Commission was unenthusiastic about the controversial provisions. In an October 1 article titled "9/11 Panelists Oppose House Provisions," the Post reported in detail on these controversial provisions as well as the preference of 9-11 commissioners for the Senate bill:

“The Senate bill is a giant step forward” and “the right vehicle for our recommendations” regarding the executive branch, said former New Jersey governor Thomas H. Kean (R), the commission's chairman. He and his colleagues gave much fainter praise to the House bill, which includes dozens of provisions to boost federal powers to track or deport immigrants suspected of terrorist ties.