Congress completes work on Sept. 11 bill
Jim Swanson July 26th, 2007 - 11:53 pm By JIM ABRAMS
WASHINGTON - A national security bill that would strengthen screening of air and sea cargo could be on the president’s desk within the next week.
The legislation, which aims to carry out remaining recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, also would shift more federal funds to cities and states at greatest risk of terror attack and designate money to ensure that first responders can communicate with each other.
“The bill will protect Americans from terrorism by addressing major security vulnerabilities and improving our defenses across the board against terrorist attacks,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Wednesday.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the plan is to send the compromise bill, worked out by House-Senate negotiators, to President Bush before Congress leaves for its August recess at the end of next week. “I hope the president would not see the 9/11 Commission recommendations bill as a confrontation,” he said.
House Democrats, stressing the legislation’s importance, passed it on the first day of the session last January, and the Senate passed its version in March. But further action stalled until Democrats agreed to drop a provision in both bills that would have given airport screeners collective bargaining rights.
