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| Senate & House Approve Similar Anti-Terrorism Bill |
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Posted by FoM on October 12, 2001 at 16:04:35 PT By Ralph Dannheisser Source: U.S. Department of State 
Washington -- The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly passed a pair of bills that expand law enforcement powers in the fight against terrorism and tighten aviation security, and the House of Representatives has approved a companion anti-terrorism bill -- though one with significant differences.Disagreements over whether or not to federalize the jobs of airport baggage checkers stalled final House action on the second measure, however. The Senate anti-terrorism legislation, passed by a 96-1 vote late October 11, would broaden the ability of law enforcement agencies to wiretap suspected terrorists, share intelligence information, and prosecute persons who knowingly harbor terrorists. The other Senate bill, also passed October 11 - this one by a unanimous 100-0 vote - would create a new, federalized force of baggage screeners, put armed federal guards at key checkpoints, and increase sharply the number of plainclothes "sky marshals" on commercial flights. The House anti-terrorism bill passed by a 337-79 margin October 12. The measure stirred substantial debate, after Republican House leaders sought to drop the version that had been proceeding through that chamber in favor of the one passed by the Senate and approved by the White House -- one that some legislators argued would pose a real danger to civil liberties in this country. The Senate version, for example, would establish the new wiretapping authorities permanently, while House members favored a five-year "sunset" -- or expiration date -- on some of them. "This could be the Gulf of Tonkin resolution for civil liberties, instead of a measure meant to fight terrorism," said Representative Peter DeFazio (Democrat, Oregon). His analogy was to the resolution passed by the Senate in 1964 that ultimately gave President Lyndon Johnson broad powers in prosecuting the Vietnam War. But House Majority (Republican) Leader Richard Armey declared, "A good government makes the people secure while preserving their freedom, and that is what this bill does." The sunset issue and other differences between the House and Senate versions still must be resolved, most likely by a Senate-House conference committee, before a final bill can be sent to President Bush to sign into law. A second key difference is that the Senate bill includes a money-laundering provision that the House measure omits. And Senate Majority (Democratic) Leader Thomas Daschle said before the House acted, "We will not support a counterterrorism bill that does not have money laundering provisions in it.... It must be done, and we will insist that it be done." "Money laundering" refers to transactions designed to obscure the origin and ownership of illicit funds. As for the air safety measure, House members remained seriously divided over the provision of the Senate bill that would federalize airport security personnel. Many Democrats insist that turning over security to federal operation is vital to improve what they say has been spotty performance by low-paid, under-trained baggage checkers. But Republicans, who control the House, are concerned about expanding the federal workforce so significantly. They say they will not bring the bill to the floor until they are sure they can pass a version favored by the White House that would keep the screeners in the private sector, even while extending federal controls over their supervision and training. White House officials said October 12 that President Bush could well tighten air security by executive order - bypassing Congress entirely - if the legislature does not undo the Senate provisions. Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said Bush has authority to order stronger cockpit doors, add air marshals and tighten standards for the hiring and training of baggage screeners. In support of the White House approach, House Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young (Republican Alaska), told reporters, "We're not even going to talk about the Senate bill." House Minority (Democratic) Leader Richard Gephardt urged speedy action along the lines of the Senate bill. "I think people in the country will have trouble understanding why the Congress can't just do what is rational and sensible at this time of crisis in the country," he said. (But air safety measure, passed by Senate, stalls in House) (720) Note: Ralph Dannheisser is a Washington File Congressional Correspondent The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web Site: http://usinfo.state.gov Source: U.S. Department of State Related Articles: Boost FBI's Power — for Now Senate Passes Anti-Terrorism Bill Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #1 posted by Frank S World on October 12, 2001 at 16:30:09 PT |
| "House Minority (Democratic) Leader Richard Gephardt urged speedy action along the lines of the Senate bill. "I think people in the country will have trouble understanding why the Congress can't just do what is rational and sensible at this time of crisis in the country," he said." Hmmm, ending the war on drugswould be rational and sensible. But they couldn't get that or anything rational and sensible accomplished even in times of "peace". Why expect better of them now? [ Post Comment ] |
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