The report, requested by Grassley and Sen. Carl Levin, of Michigan, was requested in the wake of revelations that some of the hijackers were on certain government watch lists, but that information was not shared with other agencies or state and local law enforcement. More than a year and a half after the attacks of September 11, there is still no consolidated watch list of terrorists. The report's recommendations call on the Department of Homeland Security to consolidate watch lists, create consistent policies and procedures for information sharing, and address technical challenges.
Here is Grassley's comment.
"Information sharing among federal agencies remains inefficient and without clear direction or leadership. Different computer systems in five departments with nine agencies and twelve watch lists have trouble exchanging information. State and local law enforcement only have about half of the information in watch lists.
"The gaps leave the nation's borders vulnerable. Local and state police, who are on the front lines of the war on terror and are most likely to encounter suspected terrorists, remain largely in the dark about the identity of dangerous terrorists."