This document, developed in consultation with the Information Sharing Council (ISC), represents an interim implementation plan and serves as a roadmap for developing the comprehensive implementation plan for the ISE, which is expected to be submitted to the Congress in July 2006. In the past four years, the Administration has taken significant steps toward advancing our ability to share terrorism information. Through Executive Orders 13311 and 13356, the Administration laid the foundation for improving information sharing. On October 25, 2005, President Bush added to this foundation by publishing Executive Order 13388, "Further Strengthening the Sharing of Terrorism Information to Protect Americans." That order makes clear the President's intent to ensure that the heads of all Federal departments and agencies who possess or acquire terrorism information shall promptly give access to the terrorism information to the head of each other agency that has counterterrorism functions unless directed otherwise by the President or are forbidden from doing so because of statutory and other legal restrictions. In parallel with these efforts, Congress enacted three laws providing the U.S. Government with greater authority for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating terrorist information: the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA). In addition, the Administration has adopted the majority of information sharing recommendations put forth by the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction. Today, the sharing of terrorism information takes place within multiple sharing environments within individual communities of interest such as law enforcement; homeland security; State, local, and tribal; defense; intelligence; diplomatic, and the private sector.

Section 1016(e) of the IRTPA requires the President to submit an Implementation Plan to Congress within 1 year of enactment. To initially respond to this requirement, the Program Manager, on January 9, 2006 provided to Congress an Interim Implementation Plan Report (iPlan). This interim report describes the 11 requirements stated in IRTPA and provides a road map for developing the comprehensive Implementation Plan for the ISE, which is expected to be submitted to the Congress in July 2006. This interim plan identifies a vision and strategy for the development of the ISE, and describes the corresponding activities to be undertaken by the PM, Federal departments and agencies, State, local, and tribal governments, and private sector entities.