[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 120 (Friday, September 14, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H5619-H5631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
2001 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR RECOVERY FROM AND
RESPONSE TO TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order just
adopted, I call up the bill (H.R. 2888) making emergency supplemental
appropriations for fiscal year 2001 for additional disaster assistance,
for anti-terrorism initiatives, and for assistance in the recovery from
the tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001, and for other
purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of H.R. 2888 is as follows:
H.R. 2888
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in
[[Page H5620]]
Congress assembled, That the following sums are appropriated,
out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated,
to provide emergency supplemental appropriations for fiscal
year 2001, namely:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE
PRESIDENT
Emergency Response Fund
(including transfers of funds)
For emergency expenses to respond to the terrorist attacks
on the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001, to
provide assistance to the victims of the attacks, and to deal
with other consequences of the attacks, $40,000,000,000, to
remain available until expended, including for the costs of
(1) providing Federal, State, and local preparedness for
mitigating and responding to the attacks, (2) providing
support to counter, investigate, or prosecute domestic or
international terrorism, (3) providing increased
transportation security, (4) repairing public facilities and
transportation systems damaged by the attacks, and (5)
supporting national security: Provided, That these funds may
be transferred to any authorized Federal Government activity
to meet the purposes of this Act: Provided further, That the
Congress designates the entire amount as an emergency
requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided
further, That $40,000,000,000 shall be available only to the
extent that an official budget request, that includes
designation of the $40,000,000,000 as an emergency
requirement as defined in the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985, is transmitted by the President
to the Congress: Provided further, That the President shall
consult with the chairmen and ranking minority members of the
Committees on Appropriations prior to the transfer of these
funds: Provided further, That of the $40,000,000,000 made
available herein, $10,000,000,000 shall not be available for
transfer to any Department or Agency until 15 days after the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget has submitted
to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a
proposed allocation and plan for use of the funds for that
Department or Agency; $20,000,000,000 may be obligated only
when enacted in a subsequent emergency appropriations bill,
in response to the terrorist acts on September 11, 2001:
Provided further, That the President shall transmit an
amended budget request proposing an allocation of funds:
Provided further, That not less than one-half of the
$40,000,000,000 shall be for disaster recovery activities and
assistance related to the terrorist acts in New York,
Virginia and Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, as
authorized by law: Provided further, That the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget shall provide quarterly
reports to the Committees on Appropriations on the use of
these funds, beginning not later than January 2, 2002:
Provided further, That the President shall submit to the
Congress as soon as practicable detailed requests to meet any
further funding requirements for the purposes specified in
this Act.
General Provisions
Sec. 1. Funds appropriated by this Act, or made available
by the transfer of funds in this Act, for intelligence
activities are deemed to be specifically authorized by the
Congress for purposes of Section 504 of the National Security
Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 414).
Sec. 2. Funds appropriated by this Act, or made available
by the transfer of funds in this Act, may be obligated and
expended notwithstanding section 10 of Public Law 91-672,
section 313 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act,
fiscal years 1994 and 1995, and section 15 of the State
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956.
This Act may be cited as the ``2001 Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Act for Recovery from and Response to
Terrorist Attacks on the United States''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of today,
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Wisconsin
(Mr. Obey) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young).
{time} 0915
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, America is one Nation united under God today more than
any time since December 7, 1941, when we were attacked at Pearl Harbor.
Americans are normally very busy people, staying focused on those
matters of concern to ourselves and to our families.
Today our country's focus is on our fellow Americans who lost their
lives in the despicable terrorist attack on Tuesday, September 11,
2001, and also on their families who mourn them. We seek God's blessing
of comfort for them.
Today, Mr. Speaker, America has officially set aside a time for
national mourning. We will also focus on rebuilding what terrorists
destroyed. Today we focus on not only seeking out those who brought
this attack to our land, but to deal with those who might be planning
other sneak attacks on America or the rest of the civilized world.
Americans will not live in fear, and we will not allow attacks on our
people or our places.
With the action of the United States Congress today, the world will
know that our people and we as their representatives in Congress are
more united behind our President as he leads this great Nation under
God than most Americans alive today have ever witnessed. We absorbed
the attacks in Beirut when we lost brave Marines. We absorbed the
attack at Khobar Towers when we lost brave members of our Air Force
deployed to that part of the world. We absorbed the embassy attacks in
Africa with some retaliation. We had the attack on the USS Cole where
members of our Navy were killed or seriously injured, and we will
rebuild the Cole as a monument to advise the world that we will not
accept these attacks on our people.
When the attacks came on Tuesday of this week, we had several
options. We could have selected to wait, to see if this was another
isolated act of terrorism, or we could choose to fight back, to do
whatever is necessary to protect our Nation, to protect our families,
and to preserve our freedoms and our way of life.
Let there be no doubt. Our choice, the choice of President George
Bush, the choice of the United States Congress, and the choice of the
great people of a great Nation is to fight back. The world will be
impressed by our response as we mobilize for this fight.
As we present this bill today, Mr. Speaker, I thank the Speaker of
the House for all of the assistance and wisdom and guidance the
gentleman from Illinois gave us as we produced this bill. This was not
an easy bill to decide how best to respond in a constitutional way.
I thank the leaders of the Senate who worked so diligently with us in
order to write the bill that we will present here this morning, and I
thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the ranking member of
the Committee on Appropriations. We debated, argued our some
differences, and worked together as Americans to come up with the right
solution. Throughout, the gentleman from Wisconsin was a pillar of
strength, a giant; and I want to say I appreciate the efforts the
gentleman from Wisconsin made to make this happen.
I thank the members of our staff who stayed with us through the day
and the night in order to present this bill and make it a good bill.
Mr. Speaker, I thank our friends and allies around the world who have
come to our aid and assistance, if nothing more than with their words
and demonstrations of support. That is a strong message for us and to
the rest of the world, and especially to the terrorists in the world,
that we are a united people against terrorism.
Mr. Speaker, the bill that we present today, H.R. 2888, is an
emergency supplemental appropriations bill that basically provides $40
billion to be available as needed by the President, and as agreed to by
the Congress, in order to mobilize this Nation to fight this fight, to
eliminate the threat of terrorism from the United States and from the
civilized world.
We are going to move this bill quickly today, and we are going to
have this mobilization underway. I think that the world will be
impressed, and I believe that fear should be in the hearts of the
terrorists because our people will not live in fear. We will not allow
that to happen.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 14 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is a response to the worst attack on U.S. soil
in the history of our republic. That attack requires a response which
is focused, strong, mature, and lasting. That attack requires a
response that is based on solid unity, and that unity must be based
upon the recognition of and the overcoming of our differences, not in
the ignoring or the papering over of our differences. That is the only
way to provide true unity over the long haul.
Very frankly, twice in the last 2 days I was concerned that that
unity would not come about. This morning I can tell every Member of
this House without question that those divisions have
[[Page H5621]]
been overcome during negotiations on this bill, and I think it is
important that some Members who have some misgivings understand the
history of this bill.
During negotiations on this bill, money has never been an object.
Make no mistake about it, this committee, this body, will provide
whatever resources are needed to respond to this challenge, not just
today, not just tomorrow, but for as long as it takes; but it is
crucial in our rush to a response that we preserve and protect the
institutional arrangements that have been the very foundation of our
liberty since the Constitution was first written.
Mr. Speaker, the Congress has essentially only two powers that mean
anything in the scheme of things. The first is the War Power; the
second is the power of the purse. Very frankly, I am sad to say because
of the nature of the times that we live in, the nature of technology
and our own history over the last 30 years, the Congress' power to
determine when we go to war has substantially eroded.
Today, except in the most extraordinary circumstances, it is,
frankly, the President who decides whether we will pull the trigger.
But that means that Congress has a double obligation under the oath
that we all took, to maintain the power of the purse. And we do not do
that for turf reasons; we do it because that is the fundamental power
that Congress has, to preserve liberty for every American.
Let me give some practical examples. These may seem mundane, but they
go to the core of the relationship between branches of government.
The World Trade Center in New York, I have no idea how that is going
to finally be rebuilt, but at some point I think it is safe to say
there may be a question about whether the Federal Government plays a
role in funding that. I do not know what the outcome of that will be,
but I do know that Congress as an institution has a right to be
involved in those decisions. This is not a decision that can just be
made by one branch of government unilaterally.
The subway damage in New York. Decisions about the shape and nature
of Federal involvement in repairing the subway must be made on a
collaborative basis between the two branches of government.
Public safety at airports. That is our first line of defense against
terrorism and that failed this week. We are going to have major
decisions made about how safety at airports are upgraded. The Congress
must be able to take advantage of the expertise that people in this
body have, people like the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman
from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr.
Oberstar), and others who know a great deal about this.
That expertise can be brought to bear only by congressional
participation in those decisions. These are just some fairly mundane
examples, but they are important in the long-term scheme of things.
The first package that was presented to us was, frankly, a blank
check; and to the credit of the people involved, that approach was
rejected.
This bill provides unprecedented grants of authority to the
President, but it does retain reasonable congressional ability to make
its own judgments about how this money ought to be spent, and I want to
describe what it does.
This bill is a down payment on the efforts of this country to
undertake to find and punish those who committed this terrible act and
those who supported them, and it is a downpayment on providing the
resources necessary to rebuild this Nation. It provides an initial
payment of $40 billion to help the victims repair the damage, upgrade
our security, and begin the military preparations to find and destroy
the perpetrators of these deplorable and despicable acts. $10 billion
will be available immediately upon the signature of the President and
will be spent in areas of government that he deems appropriate under
consultation with the Congress.
A second $10 billion will become available after he has published his
plans for its use. The Congress will have 15 days to review those
plans, and I fully expect that there will be a respectful relationship
between the two branches of government in ironing out any misgivings
that Congress might have with respect to any of those plans.
Next, an additional $20 billion will be spent based upon the
submission of a Presidential budget request and an action by the
Congress in the regular appropriations bills that we will be sending to
the President in the weeks ahead. Half of this money will be for
responding to domestic cleanup, reconstruction, and humanitarian needs.
The remainder will be for tightening security in military operations.
In addition, Congress will be considering defense appropriations
bills within the next few weeks that will contain in excess of $340
billion as well as domestic appropriations which will contain numerous
additional commitments to improving and enhancing security.
Mr. Speaker, we are in day three of a new world. As a past President
indicated a long time ago, we are entering into a long twilight
struggle against terrorism. This is going to be a very nasty
enterprise. Our country for its entire history has been shielded by two
oceans from this kind of threat. Today with modern technology, with
modern transportation, it is not only the economy that is global, we
also have a global capability of people to take out their hatred on
those that they do not like.
{time} 0930
There is no question America paid a price for world leadership. If it
proves to be that the people who perpetrated this act are those we
suspect, it will demonstrate that we have also paid a price for the
world's failure to find a resolution to the Middle East problems. We
have also paid a price for a long period of underfunding a number of
critical public service items, including airport security.
This is going to be a long fight. We need to be able to stick
together for the duration. That means we are going to have to be able
to trust each other implicitly. We are going to have to be able to
trust each other's word. And we are going to have to have a respectful
relationship between the two branches of government. Because it is very
easy, once the going gets tough on an issue like this, for people to
bail out. The only thing that will keep us together is conscience and
unity built on honest agreement.
I want to thank a few people. I want to thank Senator Byrd who in my
view was fierce in defense of the institutional prerogatives that we
must hold dear. These prerogatives are important, not because they make
us powerful but because they are the only tools that enable us to
protect the liberty of each and every American that we represent. I
want to thank Senator Stevens for overcoming his differences and
working with all of us. I want to thank Chairman Young. Bill Young and
I have a long relationship. We are friends, we are sometimes
adversaries, but in all instances we are partners, and we will be
partners for a long time to come as we deal with these issues. I want
to thank the minority leader, Mr. Gephardt, because he intervened on
three separate and crucial occasions in order to convey a seriousness
of purpose on both ends of the avenue that was necessary to overcome
our differences. I want to thank our Speaker. Yesterday on at least two
occasions he demonstrated what leadership is all about. And I think it
is safe to say that, more than almost anyone, he recognized the need
for true unity yesterday and he recognized, as I said earlier, that
that unity needed to be based upon the overcoming of our differences
rather than the papering over of our differences.
I also do want to thank our staff on both sides of the aisle. Many
people sitting here this morning have been working for days on this,
but I especially want to single out Scott Lilly, the staff director on
our side of the aisle, and Jim Dyer on the Republican side of the
aisle. As usual, they have helped us to bridge differences and they
have helped us protect the prerogatives and the needs of this
institution. And the way they do it on a daily basis is a constant
demonstration of the day-to-day actions that constitute true
patriotism. I am profound in my admiration for them and all of those
who work with them.
I want to say to the people of New York, there is not a district in
this country that is more different from New York than mine. But every
person
[[Page H5622]]
in my district today stands as one with the people of New York. They
have experienced a tragedy which is unparalleled. Our hearts go out to
every single family who has lost anyone. I want to express our
solidarity with those folks at the Pentagon, those folks who work
there. They defend our country abroad and at home. Some of them paid
the ultimate price and we will not forget. I want to thank those that
were on the various airplanes that crashed who gave us fragmentary
information about what happened and, at least on several occasions,
obviously engaged in struggles which may have preserved the existence
of the very building in which we work today. We owe them a lot. And we
owe to each other efforts to build a new relationship and a new sense
of comity in this town so that we can, in fact, meet the
responsibilities that we were elected to perform.
I urge support for this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
Mr. Speaker, when America is attacked, when any American is attacked,
when any of our places is attacked, all of our country is attacked.
America was attacked on last Tuesday. Attacks took place in New York
City and on our Defense Department here in northern Virginia. The
gentleman from Wisconsin just eloquently referred to that. The New York
delegation has been very strong in supporting whatever efforts need to
be done to help the recovery in New York. The Governor of the State,
Governor Pataki, the mayor of the city, Mayor Giuliani, all of the
officials, the police, the firefighters, the emergency medical
technicians, the doctors, the nurses, the civilians who volunteered,
everyone has just responded in such a tremendous way, an outpouring of
support and unity. It is just amazing to watch this response.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Walsh), one of the leaders of his Congressional delegation and also a
leader on the Committee on Appropriations. He and other members of the
delegation spoke to us eloquently yesterday at a meeting that we held
with them.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, it has often been said that America is great
because it is good. This bill exemplifies the goodness of our Nation. I
would like to begin by thanking the President of the United States who
has been a pillar of strength throughout this incredible period of
time. When I watched him yesterday, I saw tears welling up in his eyes.
I saw his chin quiver. All of us have felt that since this incident
occurred. But at the same time it was a velvet surface on a solid steel
interior, and I think that is the way everyone has approached this
tragedy.
I am so proud of this Nation. I am so proud of my colleagues here in
the Congress. The way people came together to resolve this,
partisanship aside, bicameral differences aside, would make this
country and should make this country proud. The generosity of the
American people is reflected in its representation here in the
Congress, and this bill is the epitome of that generosity, $40 billion.
But the point is the first thing the President said to the mayor and to
the Governor of New York was, ``Whatever it takes.'' When I spoke with
Chairman Young, he said, ``We're going to provide whatever it takes.''
Ranking Member Obey, ``Whatever it takes.'' There was no issue of money
anywhere along the line. I want to express my gratitude to them.
Yesterday, I had the occasion to visit the Pentagon and to see the
courage and bravery and the professional demeanor of the men and women
who are working there. It inspires great strength. It inspires great
confidence. The people of FEMA, the men and women over whom my
subcommittee has oversight, are leading the efforts in both locations.
Director Albaugh is in New York City doing his job. And he is proud to
do it. We will be providing funds through this bill to FEMA. FEMA has
already allocated $165 million for the response in both locations. The
estimates from FEMA at this point, and they are preliminary estimates,
are that the costs for the cleanup and reconstruction of this site in
New York City are in the neighborhood of $9 to $10 billion. Those are
only estimates. There are other estimates that are much higher. But
clearly this is a proper, appropriate response to the initial damage
that was done.
The promise that this bill provides from getting our city and our
Pentagon back on track to tracking down the perpetrators of this
incredible mass murder, is that the necessary resources will be there,
because everyone, right down the line, including our Speaker, has
promised to provide whatever it takes.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), the distinguished ranking member on the
Subcommittee on Defense of the Committee on Appropriations.
Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment the leadership in
protecting the prerogatives of the Congress but protecting the
prerogatives of the people of this great Nation with the largest
supplemental that I have ever seen since I have been in Congress. I
think it is a well thought out and carefully drawn bill.
But what I wanted to really talk about was in my district, the
tragedy that unfolded there. When we sat in the Capitol, when Jerry
Lewis and I sat in the Capitol and heard that a plane was headed
towards the Capitol, we evacuated, we listened to the various stories
of it hitting New York, hitting the Pentagon. Then I traveled back to
the district. I listened to the people who saw the airplane crash. I
listened to the people in the tower in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, who
explained to me they had a notification from Cleveland center about 10
minutes before the plane went over. It went over Johnstown airport at
about 6,000 feet. I recognized, with all my years of experience
listening to reports on terrorism, that that crew, those passengers,
were struggling, that whole time. The plane started to disintegrate,
apparently, four or five miles from the site where it landed.
When a reporter has asked me, why do you not think it was headed for
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, well, as proud as I am of our district, there
is no question in my mind the Capitol of the United States is a symbol
of freedom worldwide. There is no question in my mind this airplane was
headed towards the Capitol and it would have been disastrous with the
loss of life and the symbolism that it would have presented to the
perpetrators of this tragedy.
I am convinced they struggled. They fought. They missed a school by
about a mile. They missed an industrial park by a couple of miles. They
missed the airport by a couple of miles. But when I say a couple of
miles, I am talking about seconds. This plane was traveling at just
under the speed of sound. And as it rolled over and the people that saw
it crash into the ground said it was upside down when it hit. I have
seen tragedy in Beirut the day after the bombing. I have been to
Somalia and Bosnia and Vietnam. I have never seen anything as
horrendous as this crash. It apparently came straight in, avoided all
the land, all the houses, the structures and so forth, and their
purpose was consummated.
As a matter of fact, a number of people, and I agree with this,
recommended we should put a small monument out there at the location
where this plane hit. We are going to do that. We are going to also put
a plaque with all the names at the Johnstown airport, because I
consider these folks as real heroes. If anything came out of that, it
shows the strength of America. These folks decided in their own mind,
and having been a combat veteran myself, I understand the tough
decisions you have to make when your life is threatened. These folks
made the decision that they were not going to let this plane hit a
populated area.
I want to commend them. I want to console the families. As tragic and
sorrowful as this is, the fact that they saved innumerable lives, if
there is any bright spot at all in this terrible tragedy, it is the
fact that these people gave their lives to protect the Capitol of the
United States, which is the symbol of freedom throughout the world.
{time} 0945
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Sweeney), another distinguished member of the New
York delegation, who is also a member of the Committee on
Appropriations, and was
[[Page H5623]]
very instrumental in helping us to resolve this appropriations bill
today.
(Mr. SWEENEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, we have seen extraordinary efforts in bravery throughout
America in the last several days; and as a New Yorker, yesterday I saw
extraordinary efforts in recognition by a number of my colleagues here.
As a New Yorker, I wanted to convey to those back home so it is
understood, first, obviously, the President of the United States in
recognizing the devastation and the deep hurt that was affecting all of
us. I watched, Mr. Speaker, I watched my chairman, the gentleman from
Florida (Chairman Young), recognize, understand and work ever so hard
into the wee hours of this morning to begin to bring about the healing
and bring about solutions for all of us in America, but in particular
the pain we are feeling in New York. I want to say thank you to them.
I saw the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and the other
leadership work together in those same recognitions. There was a clear
sign yesterday of how we all understood the devastation for the
affected areas; but in reality, that devastation and its effect goes
beyond individual jurisdiction, and the injury hits us all as
Americans.
On Wednesday in this House we began with ceremony and symbolism as a
body. Today I am proud to be part of a body and part of Congress that
will act in the most meaningful and expeditious ways to begin to bring
about the healing of the American people, of New Yorkers, and of this
entire world.
I thank you all, and I urge my colleagues to support this important
legislation.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), who was deeply involved in
negotiations yesterday with us.
(Mr. NADLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, let me express my gratitude to everyone in
this Chamber for their expressions of solidarity with the people of New
York and the people of my district.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, like December 7, 1941, a date which
will live in infamy, the United States was viciously and treacherously
attacked. Thousands of our fellow citizens lie dead under the rubble.
The World Trade Center, one of the most visible symbols of my home, New
York City, is no more. Thousands of families even now frantically await
word of the fates of their family members.
Our response must be swift and resolute. First, we must continue the
rescue and recovery operation, we must do all we can to assist the
families of the victims, and we must help New York to recover from the
devastation visited upon her.
Second, we must prosecute the war that has been thrust upon us with
resolve, with fortitude, with unity, until the evil terrorist groups
that are waging war against our country are eradicated from the face of
the Earth.
This bill provides a down payment on the funds necessary to wage this
war and to assist its victims. We will have to do far, far more; but we
must begin. I urge unanimous approval of this bill.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1\1/2\ minutes.
Mr. Speaker, another of the sites of devastation was the Defense
Department in Northern Virginia, at the Pentagon. After the tradegy, I
went to the Pentagon, I visited there twice, and I will tell you that
it is a sad, sad experience to see the nerve center of our military
establishment attacked and damaged severely with a tragic loss of life.
Mr. Speaker, America sometimes takes our military for granted, except
in a time of trouble and tribulation, when the military is called upon
to perform, or when they are put at risk.
Mr. Speaker, the men and women who serve in uniform could be at risk
at any time, without notice. These Americans serving at the Pentagon on
Tuesday suffered with no notice, a tremendous loss of life. Those of us
who spend time in Northern Virginia have friends who have been affected
by the loss of loved ones.
Mr. Speaker, the one Member of this Congress who spends most of his
life dealing with national defense issues is the chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. I have the
privilege of serving on that subcommittee and I chaired it for some
time. The current chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis)
is a real patriot and is really dedicated to the well-being of the men
and women who serve in our military.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lewis), the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense of
the Committee on Appropriations.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate very much the
gentleman yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I have come to tell friends in the last couple of days
that Americans have not wanted to believe that our shores would ever be
in danger, for we are a free people, a people who live in peace and who
want freedom and peace for the world.
It is hard to believe that there are those who would use murder as
their mechanism to make their point in the world. But, indeed, we have
come together as a people across the country. We will adjourn not too
long from now to go and pray together.
The world will see a different kind of America in the days ahead. My
chairman in his statement said that we will not live in fear, and,
indeed, we will not. A great President of our past, Franklin Delano
Roosevelt, once said that the only thing we have to fear is, indeed,
fear itself.
Yesterday on the floor of the House, the minority leader, the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), expressed the feeling of all of
us that we in the House of Representatives, who have some serious
responsibility here, nonetheless recognize in a time like this that we
must support our Commander in Chief.
There is no party. My colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Murtha), and I working on this Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee
on Defense, know the importance of national strength.
But when our people come together, there is no Democrat, there is no
Republican. We are the American people, and we will make sure that our
freedom is preserved as we go forward and deliver hope for the world.
Indeed, today is an important day for our people, standing shoulder by
shoulder. We will communicate to all people who will hear that freedom
for the world is our purpose.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the distinguished ranking member of the
Committee on Armed Services.
Mr. SKELTON. I certainly thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this supplemental
appropriation bill. We are here because there has been an outrage to
decency, to American decency, by the attacks of September 11. We today
are reflecting by our debate and by our votes the outrage of all
Americans.
I realize that the words of condolences and the words of anger and
outrage have nearly all been said, but we are here to act today. We are
here to act by considering this legislation and passing it, hopefully
unanimously, so that we can support the staggering loss of life and the
symbols of American prowess in the world that have been damaged or
destroyed. We are saddened for that.
But never let there be a doubt that we as Americans will retaliate,
and that those who perpetrated this or harbor those who perpetrated it
will long remember that they should never touch America again.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.
Mr. Speaker, I do so to say that in addition to the security of the
Nation that we talk about with respect to our uniformed services and
our military personnel and those who are at risk at any given time and
those who serve this Nation so well, who are all volunteers, by the
way, Mr. Speaker, intelligence is an important part of our Nation's
security.
We have a very distinguished leader as chairman of our Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence, a friend of mine for a long time, a
colleague. I had the privilege of serving on the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence for 14 years. The gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Goss) is a former intelligence
[[Page H5624]]
officer himself and has done a great job leading the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence. Most of the time the work that the gentleman
and the folks who deal with national defense do not get much exposure,
because much of that work must be done in secret.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Goss), the distinguished chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence.
Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I am much obliged to my good friend and
colleague and very distinguished former member of the committee, whose
wisdom we still enjoy on the committee, my friend, the chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young).
We are equally blessed to have as the chairman of the Subcommittee on
Defense the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), who has also served
on committee with great distinction. I do not think this country
realizes how lucky we are to have people like the gentleman from
California (Mr. Lewis), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), and the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), who understand the sensitivity and the necessity
of the business that we deal with.
We do have some necessary business I need to bring up, and I would
like to engage in a colloquy, if I may. I think as Members of the House
are aware, the National Security Act requires a specific authorization
for each dollar spent by the United States Government on intelligence
and intelligence-related activities. This is a safeguard for Americans.
In cases such as this, when an emergency spending bill is passed by
Congress that includes funds for intelligence, it is customary to
include a provisional authorization in the bill for those intelligence
dollars.
I would like to seek the assurance of my good friends from Florida
and California that although there is a provisional authorization for
intelligence funds, it is their intent and the intent of the
legislation that the administration will provide the appropriate
congressional committees with a detailed accounting for all
intelligence spending in this bill.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. GOSS. I yield to the gentleman from California.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I can assure the gentleman
that when it comes to intelligence funding that may be in this bill, it
is indeed the intent of this legislation that the administration will
provide Congress with specific spending plans as funds are obligated as
well as detailed records of expenditures actually made.
Mr. Speaker, further, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha)
and I have just signed a letter to the director of the agency to make
certain that there is a clear understanding of that very point that the
gentleman makes.
Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thank my colleague. I
also definitely look forward to continuing to work closely with the
gentleman and his committee to ensure that the money in this bill and
all future intelligence funding is utilized to strengthen and improve
our intelligence capabilities, near term and long term. Is that
accurate?
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield
further, that is correct.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the ranking member on the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and
commend the leadership and all those who participated in bringing this
bill to the floor today.
I want to associate myself with the concern expressed by our
distinguished chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence about having some idea of how this money will be spent
before it is. Then I would like to, of course, express my deep
condolences to the people of New York and of our military for the
tragedy that has befallen our country this week.
Our great President said it was a day that will live in infamy, of
another tragic day in our history, and the distinguished chairman
mentioned, he also said the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
It is on that point I would like to just say that fear is the goal of
terrorists. They have succeeded when they can frighten a country or
frighten a people into the panic that would ensue. They have never met
the New Yorkers, who are a fearless lot. The indomitable spirit of New
York, I know, will lead the country to the recovery that we must and
will have.
But make no mistake, make no mistake, they place no value on human
life, these terrorists, so the number of people dead is no victory to
them. The structures coming down mean nothing to them. Instilling fear
is their goal. We must join with New York in its effort to, like the
Phoenix, rise from the ashes and give them the defeat, the terrorists
the defeat, that they deserve.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the distinguished chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, who has a
great responsibility; and one of his responsibilities is airline safety
and security.
(Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
{time} 1000
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding me this time.
I rise in support of the bill. I want to commend the leadership of
the Speaker; of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), the chairman of
this committee; the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the ranking
member; and the bipartisan leadership for bringing this bill up and
bringing it forward.
Mr. Speaker, I have never reflected on the meaning of America's motto
before this time, I have to admit. But it says it all, I think, and
that motto, of course, is ``E Pluribus Unum,'' Out of Many, One.
America is united now as I have not seen in my adult lifetime. It is
heartening to see this morning riding into work Americans with flags
flying from the windows of their cars and the offices of buildings
throughout this city and, I am sure, all across America. In the wake of
the despicable attack of September 11, Americans are in mourning. They
are angry, but they are resolved to take decisive and severe action
against these perpetrators, or those who harbor them. This raw emotion
that Americans feel and the anger felt by us all will not easily yield
to time, nor should it.
Yesterday, the Congress expressed its sorrow and its resolve. Today,
we begin to act. In this bill, we give the President the extraordinary
authority and resources to provide relief to the victims suffering so
severely, to prosecute efforts that will allow retaliation against our
enemies to ensure the safety of our people and to instill public
confidence in our public facilities and services. Of paramount concern,
of course, is the safety and soundness of our aviation system. We must,
and we will, work with the President, the Secretary of Transportation,
and the FAA to take immediate medium-term and long-term measures that
prevent civilians and commercial aircraft from falling prey to
terrorists.
This will be a complex and expensive task. It will require the
cooperation of the Congress, Federal transportation officials, the
intelligence community, the airline industry, airports, pilots,
controllers, all of us. It will require creative thinking and some
dramatic changes. But the aviation system is a critical component of
this economy. To ensure its viability, the Congress must be convinced
and the public must be satisfied that it is a safe system.
We are pleased with the steps that have been taken so far by the
Secretary of Transportation, but there are many more steps that should
be taken. We have to secure the cockpit, we have to have an armed guard
on these planes, and we have to greatly enhance the screening
capabilities we have to keep out terrorists from the passenger lists
and on the tarmac.
So, Mr. Speaker, this bill will go a long way toward that. We have a
long ways yet to go, and we will be back here in that respect.
But I support this bill, and I commend our leadership for putting it
together in a bipartisan fashion.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman
[[Page H5625]]
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), a member of the committee.
Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member and I thank the
chairman of the full committee for their work on this matter.
I rise to speak in favor of the supplemental and to also indicate
that it is my hope that as we go about seeking to aid those who were
victims of this tragedy, that we do not separate out in any way those
who were victims in New York from those who were victims here in the
Washington area. That is to say that I believe that all of those who
were killed because of this incident really should be treated as if
they died in service to this country, and that a comparable level of
remuneration should be provided for even those who were not part of
military service, and that a parity of benefits be accomplished through
the dollars provided in this supplemental.
Those who went to work at the World Trade Center, just like those who
went to work at the Pentagon on September 11, were targeted out and
killed because they were citizens of this country and doing a vital
service to this Nation, and I think they should be treated equally in
that regard.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from Northern Virginia (Mr. Wolf), who
represents the area that includes the Defense Department and the
Pentagon, a member of the Committee on Appropriations.
(Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this supplemental.
I want to thank the leadership on both sides; I want to thank the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Wisconsin
(Mr. Obey) for moving so fast on this issue. This issue has hit the
area that I represent. I also want to say my heart goes out to those
families in this area and in New York and in New Jersey, in just
watching the pain and the suffering and the agony of those who are
looking for their loved ones and to let them know how much we care.
Also, I want to thank the rescue workers in my area, in New York
City, and the people who have come together. I think this is just the
beginning. I believe we should do whatever it takes and make sure that
they know that we have the resolve to carry this through to make sure
that we root out terrorism.
Lastly, I want to commend the President. We had an opportunity
yesterday, and he met with the delegation. He was strong, he was
confident. He is committed. And we will resolve this issue, and we will
bring victory over terrorism.
I rise in strong support of this supplemental.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks), a key member of the committee
and the former ranking member of the Committee on Intelligence, a
member of the Subcommittee on Defense, and virtually every other
committee that has anything to do with military affairs.
Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Young), the chairman of the committee, and the gentleman
from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the ranking member, for the fantastic job
they did of protecting the prerogatives of this institution. I want to
commend them also for the prompt response to this tragic event in our
country's history. Our hearts do go out to the people of New York and
the people at the Pentagon who have lost loved ones. This is truly the
greatest tragedy in the history of the country.
I rise today just to urge our colleagues, as we think about this
problem and prepare for the future, to recognize that we are going to
have to strengthen not only our intelligence capability, but our
military capability as well. For a number of years, we have been
underfunding the Defense Department in terms of procurement and new
weapons systems. I mean it has been at a tragically low level. Somehow,
if we want to retain our military capability, if we want to have the
kind of national security that we need for the future, we are going to
have to make significant investments beyond those that we are making
here today. This will help in some respects, but there still is a lot
more that needs to be done.
Again, congratulations to everyone who worked on this. This is a good
bill that deserves our support.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson), another distinguished member of the
Committee on Appropriations.
Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to support
this legislation. I rise with all of my colleagues; and I want to
commend my colleagues that have brought this all together, because we
are here today supporting freedom, preserving freedom, not only here,
but around the world. We are the artery that supplies freedom to all.
This country is the beacon, is the artery; and they went for the
jugular.
I also am here supporting the heroes, the heroes in New York that
gave their lives to get people out, heroes not mentioned. There were
2,000 Federal employees in buildings 6 and 7, and they got them all out
but one because they carried out their plan so well. The passengers on
the flight that came down in Pennsylvania gave it their all, and we are
here supporting them.
If there is something good out of this, because I said in speeches
for years that we often in Washington get off of our number one
priority. The number one priority of the Federal Government is to
preserve freedom, is to protect this country, is to keep us safe and
provide safety and freedom around the world. Oftentimes, we have been
off on lots of debates and I think spent far too little time and effort
on the number one role of this government: preserving and fighting for
freedom and making sure that the young people in this country
understand that it does not just happen, it does not just keep going
on; that we have to fight for it, that we have to preserve it, that it
has to forever be the number one priority of this government; that
keeping this country strong, keeping this country safe and promoting
and fighting for freedom around the world is our number one role as
representatives of our people in this Congress. That is our number one
mission.
Mr. Speaker, I commend all of those that are leading us, including
the President, in the direction to do that.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute and 20 seconds to the
distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), the ranking
member of the Committee on Foreign Operations, who was deeply involved
in negotiations about the New York element of this package.
(Mrs. LOWEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Young), the chairman of the committee, and the ranking
member for their extraordinary work in making this package possible.
In my district today, children grieve for the fathers and mothers who
did not come home from work on Tuesday. So many families are grieving,
Mr. Speaker. By now we have all heard of the men and women trapped in
the World Trade Center calling their spouses saying good-bye. Our
hearts and prayers are with all who are still waiting for a loved one
to come home. Our arms are around you and America is with you.
As we speak on this floor, hundreds of brave men and women risk their
lives minute by minute shifting carefully through the rubble and the
twisted steel, searching against hope that they will find survivors in
the wreckage of what was once my city's greatest building. Their
heroism has moved a Nation and has touched the world. They are ordinary
people engaged in the most extraordinary of acts. Each one is a hero
and deserves our deepest thanks and praise. And they are not alone. New
Yorkers and Americans have responded by the thousands, waiting in line
to give blood and making charitable donations. This is the best of
America and of New York.
Now Congress must act. We New Yorkers pride ourselves on being tough,
but we cannot bear this terrible burden alone. Our Mayor and our
Governor have been magnificent, but they need our help.
More than 48 hours after Tuesday morning's horrific attacks, the
aftershocks continue. Buildings still crumble, families search for
loved ones,
[[Page H5626]]
thousands remain buried beneath rubble in New York and Virginia. Even
now, rescuers are scrambling to pull survivors from the twisted steel
and concrete of the World Trade Center.
The bill before us today will provide $20 billion specifically for
humanitarian needs.
Governor Pataki and Mayor Giuliani have made clear that they need
funds now to take care of immediate needs: search and rescue, recovery
of the victims, support for survivors and victims' families, and
restoration of security and basic services to lower Manhattan. This
legislation sends a clear signal that the Nation stands shoulder-to-
shoulder with New York as we proceed with our rescue and recovery
efforts.
Our first priority, and our singular focus, must be finding
survivors, healing the injured, and comforting the bereaved. But when
the urgent humanitarian needs have been met, we will be faced with the
daunting task of starting anew. And we will find that what took seconds
to destroy will take years to rebuild.
The package we pass today is merely a downpayment toward what will
prove to be the largest recovery effort in our Nation's history--rough
estimates total in the tens of billions of dollars. We will need to
clear thousands of tons of debris from the streets. We will need to
reconstruct large swaths of lower Manhattan. We will need to restore
the infrastructure of the heart of the world's financial markets, and
we will need to rebuild the economic backbone of the New York area. The
ripple effects of this tragedy will be severe--they will be felt across
the country, and around the world.
As we embark on this long and tortuous journey, I pledge today to my
fellow New Yorkers and to all Americans that Congress will be with you
every step of the way.
I urge unanimous passage of this bill.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from California (Mr. Dreier), the great chairman of the Committee on
Rules.
(Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time. I want to congratulate the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and
his entire team, and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and, of
course, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Goss), my friend and the great
leader of the Committee on Intelligence, who also serves on the
Committee on Rules.
I would like to take just a moment to say that as we express
appreciation to all of our colleagues, I would like to express my
appreciation to my colleagues on the Committee on Rules who, every
night, have been ready and prepared to put together this very important
legislation in support of it in a bipartisan way. I want to thank the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost) and those members of the minority as
well.
I am very privileged to represent California; and we have all
appropriately stood here to focus on New York, Pennsylvania, and the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Mr. Speaker, every single one of
those airplanes that took off from Boston, Newark, Dulles, were headed
to my State of California.
{time} 1015
I would like to simply express for a moment my heartfelt condolences
to the families and the loved ones of those people all the way on the
other side of the country who have been horribly impacted by this
tragedy. The sense of resolve that we have to deal with this is
overwhelming, and our great President put it perfectly when he said,
``Nothing will diminish the spirit of our country.''
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner), who has been on the scene in New
York and who gave one of the most moving statements in caucus yesterday
that I have heard in the years that I have been in this institution.
Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for his
remarks.
In my district in Rockaway, in St. Frances DeSales, over 30 families
of firefighters are praying today that their loved ones will be
returned home. In their prayers, they might not be saying the name of
the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young), but on their behalf I want
to offer my thanks for the great work that the chairman has done on
behalf of all of those families.
And on behalf of the literally hundreds of men and women who are on
the bucket brigade by hand removing what is estimated to be 500,000
tons of debris trying to find survivors, on behalf of those people and
others, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) for how
disciplined he has been and we have all been in trying to solve this
problem quickly.
On behalf of all of the families of those who have been lost, I
express my great thanks to all the Members of this body. Their words
are indeed comforting to them.
But let us not misunderstand. This was not a successful attack on our
country. Our financial services industry is going to be rebuilt
stronger than ever. The physical structures in New York City are going
to rise up. Our families are going to rise up.
On behalf of our entire country, I say to the terrorists, they have
not been successful, and today demonstrates that.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek).
(Mrs. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and
extend her remarks.)
Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding
time to me.
To my illustrious colleagues on the Committee on Appropriations, I
come to this well today to thank them for having shown the highest
valor that an Appropriations Committee could do. That is what it is all
about to be a Member of Congress. They have risen to their highest
glory today, because they have shown that through their wiles they have
been able to bring to the hurt and harm to people in this country the
resources of the United States government. That is what we should be
about, to be able to act quickly and resolutely to what our problems
are. I want to thank the Members for it.
I was around during World War II. I have been a member of the
Committee on Appropriations. I know what military preparedness is all
about. So do not worry about it, we are doing the right thing. Our
young President is doing the right thing. We have to stand behind him.
We have to unify, as Americans always do.
I am thankful to be here, having spanned all that time, to come back
today to thank God for America.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my colleague,
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw).
Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time to me.
I want to compliment the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) and
the entire Committee on Appropriations and, of course, the ranking
member, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), for bringing us
together and bringing us together so quickly, which is very difficult,
and for giving the President the discretion that he desperately needs
in order to really be the true leader.
I think it is also wonderful to note all across this country how we
all are gathering and surrounding the President and recognizing the
good work that is going to be necessary in order to rebuild and to
retaliate.
There is no way that anybody on the face of this Earth can get away
with what has happened, the tragedy that we have had just across the
Potomac in Virginia, and the awful tragedy that we had in New York,
and, of course, that plane full of heroes that crashed in Pennsylvania.
Sometimes it takes a tragedy like this to bring out the best in us,
but I think the best in us has come out across all across this country.
I support this legislation, and urge a unanimous vote from this House
of Representatives.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking member of the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and one of the House's
resident experts on aviation safety.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to
me and for those kind words. Let me return the compliment to the leader
on our side whose persistence, hard work, and enormous energy have
carried the day for us. I thank the chairman for his leadership, the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young).
[[Page H5627]]
Amidst the plethora of concerns addressed in this legislative
package, I want to signal out the first line of attack in this
terrorist incident; that is the Nation's airlines. The current
conditions in the airlines sector could lead to a complete financial
liquidation of the airline industry unless we address their immediate
financial needs. Within 3 months, all of the carriers will completely
run out of cash and be completely liquidated. They are losing cash on
an average of $60 million a day per carrier.
The financial markets are closed and the airlines cannot get access
to their respective lines of credit. Insurance has doubled. Many
insurance companies are even considering cutting off insurance, and
financial institutions have put all airlines on credit watch. Their
cargo and mail is embargoed, their source of income is gone.
Remember, if Members expect ever to get home, they need an airline to
get there.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), a key member of the Committee.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from
Wisconsin, for yielding to me.
I salute the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), the chairman of our
committee, and the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert), the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), Senate Majority Leader Daschle
and Senate Republican Leader Lott, and my own ranking member, the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).
From the outside, democracies sometimes appear weak, to those who do
not understand the strength of a free people in discourse and
disagreement. Sometimes democracies appear unwilling to act decisively
in response to a threat. But those who perceive weakness where there is
incredible strength make an awful, terrible mistake.
Today, within literally hours of a disastrous act being perpetrated
against the United States, its people, and indeed, the very concept of
freedom and liberty here and around the world, see how quickly
democracies will act.
We will pass this as a first step, as a first commitment to confront
tyranny, terrorism, and despots.
Mr. Speaker, this emergency supplemental appropriations bill is a
major step in the United States' initial response to the horrific
terrorist attacks on Tuesday. I know that my colleagues will strongly
support it.
Specifically, this bill is a rapid response to our Nation's urgent
needs. It will make $40 billion available to Federal, State and local
authorities to respond to these contemptible crimes.
It will allow us to increase transit security, repair public
facilities and transit systems, fight international terrorism and
strengthen our national security. And it will provide emergency relief
to victims and their families.
However, make no mistake: This appropriations package is about more
than money.
It is a clear demonstration of our Nation's resolve and unity in
funding rescue operations and a military response to Tuesday's
treacherous acts of war. Those acts will not go unanswered.
In the face of this challenge to our Nation and freedom-loving people
throughout the world, the United States Congress speaks with one voice.
Yes, we are Democrats and Republicans. But first we are Americans.
Congress has an important role to play, along with the President, in
responding to this act of war.
For example, we have ensured that there will be approprirate
oversight of the expenditure of these funds. As the elected
representatives of the American people, we will work closely with the
President on a daily basis in the coming weeks and months to ensure
that the proper resources are provided and necessary actions taken.
Finally, let me say to my colleagues that I had the opportunity on
Wednesday to tour the devastation at the Pentagon. Like all of us here,
my prayers and heartfelt sympathies go out to all those who died or
were injured in Tuesday's attacks, and their loved ones.
Many of my own constituents are among the victims at the Pentagon.
But even as I toured the carnage, I could not help but be buoyed by
the courage and determination of the fire fighters and rescue workers
and military personnel I met there.
Their spirit, and the spirit of democracy and freedom, can never be
extinguished by the unmitigated evil that has been directed at innocent
men, women, and children. Their spirit and their courage lights the way
for us all, as we respond to these cowardly crimes.
I urge my colleagues to support this vitally important legislation.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Fossella), another distinguished member of the New
York delegation.
(Mr. FOSSELLA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman very much for
yielding time to me, and I rise in support of this needed bill.
My wife called me this morning and said a neighbor came over and gave
her a list of eight people who are missing from Staten Island. There
are ten people at least within five blocks of my house who are missing
from this explosion. That attack on Tuesday was an attack against the
free people of this world. It was not just the folks in Staten Island,
New York City, America, but all the free people in this great world.
However, I have been in that wreckage for the last couple of days.
There is not a greater spirit, there is not more resolve, there is not
a greater determination than to turn this horrific tragedy into the
United States' finest hour. Indeed, that is happening.
So, if anything, for those martyrs who died on Tuesday, for those
victims of this heinous act, let the United States stand strong once
again and show that we would not be deterred by these terrorists.
I commend this Congress and its leadership, as well as the President
of the United States, for taking a strong stand.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley), who has at this moment, as I
understand it, a member of his own family missing in New York.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida
(Chairman Young) for all his work and the ranking member, the gentleman
from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey). I want to thank the President for unifying
this country. I want to thank the New York delegation for the
bipartisan effort that has been taking place in making sure this bill
came about.
It makes me proud of the support this Congress has provided, support
that has crossed partisan lines to assist New York over the last few
days. Right now, my city and our entire Nation are reeling. We are
digging out, optimistically searching for survivors, and regrettably,
also finding dead.
We have basic infrastructure problems that need to be addressed
immediately, and this bill is the downpayment to fund these operations.
Furthermore, this legislation allows our Nation to take the first
steps toward preparing our Nation to proactively battle terrorism
against our citizens here and abroad.
This bill sends a signal to the people of New York, Virginia,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and Americans everywhere
that their government will not let them go it alone in times of crisis
or emergency; that we are in fact one Nation, under God, indivisible.
I shed tears on this floor yesterday, and hope it is the last time I
do. Those were tears not of fear but of pride in our Nation and in my
city and of all Americans.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 40 seconds to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Moran), who represents the area devastated by the act on
the Pentagon.
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, as of yesterday, over at the
Pentagon there were 196 people still missing from the Army, the Navy,
and a number of contractors.
In addition to the 64 airline passengers, there were 21 from the
Army, 47 Army civilians, six contractors, 33 Navy military personnel,
10 Navy civilians, and 5 Navy contractors who lost their lives at the
Pentagon.
But, Mr. Speaker, our people have responded in a way that makes us so
proud to be Americans. The Arlington County Fire Department and Police
Department were the first on the scene. They have coordinated. They
have no idea how much to ask for reimbursement because it did not
matter to them. They have not kept any record. Volunteers poured in so
fast it would have been impossible. They did not care about checking
in, they cared about doing their job. They did their job.
I am so immensely proud of Arlington County, of Alexandria, of
Fairfax
[[Page H5628]]
County, of this entire Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The going
got tough, the tough got going. They saved the people that could be
saved. They have done a wonderful job.
{time} 1030
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished
gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), a key member of the Committee on
Appropriations.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield the gentleman
from New York an additional 30 seconds.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Thornberry). The gentleman from New York
(Mr. Serrano) is recognized for 1 minute.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) for
something they said that is important to us New Yorkers, that the
attack may have been physically on New York, but the fact is it was on
the whole country, and New York feels so grateful for the fact that
this Congress has seen to our needs and then what we are doing here
today.
We New Yorkers pride ourselves in being a tough people, resilient
people. We are hurting right now. We, in some ways, have been brought
to our knees, but we will bounce back. The Big Apple will come back
because we are a tough people and resilient people; but more than
anything else, Mr. Speaker, we are a grateful people; and today my city
is grateful for the fact that in spite of all the rubble and all the
pain, this Congress has seen fit to single us out for that special
help.
So let the message be heard everywhere that, yes, the target was the
Twin Towers and the target was New York City in that particular
instance, and the Pentagon and Pennsylvania; but it was an attack on
the United States of America; and no one, no one will bring us totally
down, not in New York, not in Washington, not in Pennsylvania, not
throughout this country.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter).
(Ms. SLAUGHTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the people of upstate
New York to say that we are deeply grateful for this action this
morning in my district where people are waiting 8 hours in line to
donate blood. We bleed too for our sister city.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the final 30 seconds.
Mr. Speaker, this is a shattering experience of unprecedented
proportion; but I say to every American, we have endured worse. We have
gone through two world wars, Vietnam, Korea, the burning of the Capitol
itself in 1812, the Civil War. I think we need to remember the words of
President Lyndon Johnson when he stood at that podium and addressed
this Congress on civil rights after the death of Martin Luther King: we
shall overcome.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of the
time.
Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield to me for a
question?
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.
Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot about the great American
experience. They were all heroes, but I want to mention the Centers for
Disease Control. They are unsung heroes because they are protecting us
from bioterrorism, chemical, biological weapons. We are to have a
briefing in the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and
Education at 1 o'clock on that subject.
My question is will the funding here be available to deal with
bioterrorism as well as other forms of terrorist attacks?
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman that
the answer is yes, the President has tremendous leeway in how to use
these funds for the immediate response to whatever the attack was or
will be. The Congress will play a very important constitutional role in
whatever that effort might be; but yes, the President does have the
ability to use those funds for that purpose.
Mr. Speaker, once again, I would like to express on behalf of the
House, as we close this debate, sympathy for the families of those who
lost their lives in the airplanes in New York City, in Pennsylvania, at
the Department of Defense and to let them know that this Congress is
going to be supportive in any way that we can.
Mr. Speaker, I do not have adequate words to express the pride that I
feel today for the Members of this Congress. We have a lot of political
differences which have been obvious in the past, which will be obvious
in the future; but in this time of triumph those differences have been
set aside to be addressed at another time.
Today, we unify our Nation. We unify our government and we say to the
world, Americans will not live in fear. We will not allow attacks upon
our people or our places. Despite the political differences that we may
have from time to time, and there are many, as there should be, we will
never be divided as a Nation, as a people, as a government, as a
Congress on the issue of defending our people, defending our Nation.
And if one American is attacked, if a group of Americans are attacked,
if one of our places is attacked, then as far as I am concerned, our
entire Nation has been attacked; and we are not going to stand for it.
We will do whatever it takes to support our President, who is strong
in his determination to lead this effort, to support our President as
we move towards victory over those who would perpetrate terrorism and
bring fear and tyranny to the world; and we are just not going to allow
that to happen.
I urge the passage of the bill.
Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
2888, an immediate congressional response to one of the most despicable
acts of terrorism this country has seen. Tuesday's attacks were just
the beginning of a new and lethal terror campaign against the United
States. Thousands of mothers and fathers; husband and wives; sons and
daughters of all faiths and diverse nationalities: murdered. No
warning, no explanation, no cause. On September 11, Americans from
every walk of life were taken from us by an act of terrorism. An act of
murder. An act of war.
This tragic event dramatically changed the lives of many close to
home. On Tuesday night my wife spent the evening watching television
with neighbors in my hometown of Stonington, Connecticut. Their young
grandson, Josh Piver, my daughter's friend and classmate, had a new and
exciting job on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center. He was
energetic and intelligent, living the American dream in the ``Big
Apple.'' He is missing, like many others from eastern Connecticut. I
found that the most important thing I could do as a Member of Congress
was to keep working. To get to work on Wednesday and demonstrate that
the people's work will go on, and that no matter how badly we hurt, our
democracy remains as strong as ever.
And it is here on the House floor where the work--vitally important
work--continues. Today we are taking the first step toward providing
the President the necessary tools to rebuild what has been destroyed,
restore what has been taken and react to those who have inflicted such
unspeakable damage on our great nation. Republicans and Democrats have
stood side-by-side in an unprecedented manner to craft a bill that will
provide $40 billion in emergency spending for the recovery from the
recent terrorist attacks and for providing the long overdue resources
for the investigation that will enhance our national security.
Specifically, the bill appropriates $10 billion immediately to the
Emergency Response Fund for federal activities such as preparedness for
mitigating and responding to the attacks; support to counter,
investigate and prosecute domestic and international terrorism,
increased transportation security; repairing public facilities and
transportation systems damaged by the explosions; and supporting
national security.
Additionally, the bill makes another $10 billion available 15 days
after a Presidential disaster relief plan is submitted and an
additional $20 billion will be made available through the normal
appropriations process. These are the first installments of a long-term
recovery plan for the disaster areas.
I want to thank the Speaker of the House, the Minority Leader, and
all the members of the Appropriations Committee for coming together
during these trying times and putting forth a bill that will
immediately respond to this week's terrible events. These are times
that try our souls. But America is strong and flexible. We will survive
this latest test of our freedom, our values and our democracy. I am
proud to vote for this much-needed relief and proud to be a Member of
this legislative body.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, there could be no spending bill more
important than the
[[Page H5629]]
one before us today. We need the full resources of our government
behind the challenges that lie ahead. And this has to be a multi-front
effort. We need to be relentlessly pursuing and punishing those who
committed these crimes. As the Representative of New Jersey's 13th
Congressional District--right across the river from Manhattan--I can
tell you my constituents are going through enormous hardships.
About 50 percent of the people who worked in the Twin Towers live in
New Jersey. Families who have just lost their sole breadwinner may now
face losing their homes; people who survived, who worked anywhere in
lower Manhattan, face uncertain employment futures and what for some
will be staggering medical bills--all this in addition to the emotional
and psychological trauma. Lives have been turned upside down.
It is critical that while we fight our enemies abroad, we make sure
that all the needed funding and attention also goes to the families in
crisis here at home.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am humbled today by the outpouring of
support from across our Nation for the people of my home, New York
City. I want to thank Mayor Giuliani and Governor Pataki. Their strong
leadership has made getting through this much, much easier. Here on the
floor today, the Congress is doing its part. The leadership of the
Congress, in a non-partisan way has come together to respond swiftly
and powerfully. Also, I want to thank the President as well for his
quick, strong support for this bill.
The bill, though simple, is very powerful. The bill provides $20
billion to begin the rebuilding of New York. It also provides $20
billion to ramp up our efforts at counter-terrorism. All of this is so
obviously needed. I want again to recognize the incredible heroism of
the emergency response personnel who have put themselves in harm's way
without regard for their own safety. You are all amazing and I am truly
astounded. I also want to say to the families of the victims of this
tragedy, that I and every other American grieve with you. We cannot
express in words what is in hearts. You are in our prayers and
thoughts. These acts of terrorism against New York and the Pentagon
will not deter us though. We will rebuild our city. We will rebuild the
Pentagon. We will go on. We stand united. We are Americans.
Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, America is a diverse nation. Despite our
diversity, America, in times of crisis, pulls together. Nowhere is that
fact made manifest than in this chamber today. Republicans, Democrats
and Independents all gather here today to begin the first steps in
pulling our nation out from under the rubble that befell New York and
the Pentagon on Tuesday, September 11.
I want to commend our leadership for working cooperatively and
effectively with the Speaker of the House and the leaders on the other
side of the Capitol. The supplemental appropriations bill, H.R. 2888,
that we consider today is a down payment for responding to the attack
we experienced on American soil three days ago.
The money contained in this bill will help restore downtown Manhattan
to greater glory and reconstruct the largest office building in the
world, the Pentagon. But the money will be used for more than just the
rebuilding effort; it will be used to strengthen and make more secure
the National Airspace System. Americans must feel safe in the nation's
skies if the business of this country is going to proceed unimpeded.
This bill will add more capability to the intelligence functions of our
government, so we can be more vigilant of those who pose a threat to
the safety and security of our nation. More fundamentally, this bill
will assist us in our pursuit of those countries, organizations or
individual enemies that would seek to destroy our country, our
countrymen, our values, our democratic form of government and, in
short, our very soul as a nation.
I congratulate the leadership of this House and leadership of the
Appropriations Committee for acting swiftly in bringing this money bill
for action today, and I thank them for permitting me to express my
support for this bill.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I will be very brief this morning, because a
lot of people have already spoken very eloquently about the barbaric
attack of September 11th--about how it has changed America and the
world, and about the war against terror it has started.
Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, untold thousands of innocent people were
murdered in a cowardly, heinous assault on America and the civilized
world. Since then, all of us in the Congress--regardless of ideology or
party affiliation--have repeatedly pledged to work together in a
bipartisan manner to respond.
Today, the United States Congress begins making good on that pledge.
This $40 billion bill makes a down payment on the campaign to bring aid
to our suffering countrymen, to punish the terrorists who have declared
war on America, and to ensure no one ever dares attacks us like this
again. It provides resources for disaster assistance and recovery, and
for anti-terrorism initiatives. It will help the people of New York and
officials at the Pentagon as they begin the long, important process of
rebuilding. And it will provide the President with the resources he
needs to begin waging this war on terrorism.
Mr. Speaker, the war against terror will not be won overnight. It
will take a long-term, serious, and sustained campaign from the
Congress, the American people, and the President. We understand that,
and we are committed to it. We stand united, shoulder to shoulder,
against the perpetrators of the horror of September 11th--and against
anyone who might ever contemplate trying something like it again. Make
no mistake, these terrorists--and all of their ilk--will understand
very clearly that when America is attacked, we respond with one voice,
and with the full force of the United States of America.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this supplemental
appropriations bill. This assistance will save lives and lay the
foundation for the long, arduous process of rebuilding New York City
and the surrounding communities affected by Tuesday's cowardly
terrorist attack.
Make no mistake about it: this legislation is a down payment for what
we'll need to put lives back together and restore a shining city that
is a beacon of freedom to people all over the world.
I'm told that after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Congress passed 10
separate appropriations bills, so our work won't be done tonight--not
by a long shot. But in passing this legislation, we'll be sending an
important message that the American people stand together and that
their government will do everything it takes to help in this hour of
need.
We are all part of an extraordinary American family--we must seize
the opportunity and take care of each other in this time of crisis.
Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this
legislation, which will provide our nation with the resources it needs
to continue our recovery efforts, to rebuild our damaged structures,
and to seek out and punish those who have committed these heinous acts
of violence upon our nation.
Years ago, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, ``We, and all
others who believe in freedom as deeply as we do, would rather die on
our feet than live on our knees.'' The enemies of freedom who attacked
our nation and our people on Tuesday used a weapon that represents the
newest in warfare--terror. They win when they bring us to our knees and
we cower in fear. They derive their power from making us change our way
of life and making us spend our days looking over our shoulder.
We will not let them win. We will not give them that satisfaction.
Today's legislation ensures this will be true. The funding we
appropriate today is but a down payment. We will not rest until we have
assisted all Americans who bore the brunt of Tuesday's terror. We will
not rest until we have rebuilt the City of New York, and rebuilt the
nation's defense fortress at the Pentagon, and restored the pastoral
beauty of Western Pennsylvania. And, in rebuilding these structures, we
will strengthen the will of the American people.
Finally, Mr. Speaker--and let this be absolutely clear to those who
seek to harm the United States, its people, and its allies--we will not
rest until we have sought out, found, and vanquished those who
perpetrate this evil. We will remain standing tall and proud in our
eventual victory.
I am proud to stand with my colleagues and my President to support
this important legislation, and I urge a resounding and unanimous vote.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for this $40
billion Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for disaster
assistance, for anti-terrorism initiatives, for assistance in the
recovery from the horrific tragedy that occurred on Tuesday, September
11, 2001, another day of infamy.
We have all experienced the distressing scenes of Tuesday's
disasters. We have shared in the shock and sadness felt by our entire
Nation. It is now up to us in Congress to provide swift, positive
support to our President in order to make certain that the events of
Tuesday will never happen again.
The approval of this supplemental bill will provide $40 billion for
five specific needs: The Federal, State and local response; terrorism
investigations and intelligence operations; transit security; public
building and transportation repair; and national security. This funding
will be made available through the end of fiscal year 2001 and into
fiscal year 2002; until fully expended.
Approving this measure is the first and an important step toward
ending the evil of terrorism, an evil which exists solely for the
purpose of disseminating terror and ending freedom throughout the
world.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this important emergency
funding initiative.
Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2888, a
$40 billion emergency supplemental appropriations bill that will
provide the administration with the critical tools to
[[Page H5630]]
defend and protect our great Nation and support efforts to recover from
this week's egregious terrorist attacks.
As the dust begins to settle in New York, Pennsylvania, and right
here in our Nation's Capital, my thoughts and prayers are with the
victims' families and those who are still waiting to hear from missing
loved ones. On this day of national prayer and reflection, we come
together as Americans in a great showing of unity that transcends the
bounds of religious, race, or ethnic origin. The surface of America is
not found in her structures; it is rooted in the spirit of her people.
This measure immediately provides the President with $10 billion to
fund the costs of Federal, state, and local preparedness efforts to
prevent and respond to terrorist attacks. Additionally, this
legislation enhances our law enforcement resources to prosecute
international and domestic terrorism and air travel security. At least
half of the funding will be dedicated to helping those affected recover
from this tragedy.
This emergency expenditure is an unequivocal display of this
Congress' support for the President's efforts to fortify our Nation.
Let this action show, the leaders of this land speak with one voice in
our resolve to restore peace in America and bring justice to the
innocent victims.
Today, the statue of Freedom stands watch atop the Capitol dome and
in the shadow of the devastation in Manhattan, Lady Liberty continues
to hold her torch high, reminding us that freedom does not come without
cost. Time and time again, the strength and unity of Americans has been
tested; the rubble of September 11 will sprout a new era of brotherhood
in these United States.
Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this supplemental
spending measure and I urge all of my colleagues to support it as well.
When a poet said that these are the times that try men's souls, he
could have been describing the scene before us today.
We have thousands of people lost, thousands more injured, and symbols
of the strength and vitality of our democracy--the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon--destroyed and damaged.
We have a sworn enemy that dares not to confront us in the open.
This enemy operates in the shadows, hates with an unnatural passion,
and practices political fanaticism that glorifies violent death and
condemns innocent life.
We must defeat this enemy once and for all.
The Constitution of the United States of America, the document that
protects the freedoms of all Americans, gives us in the Congress
certain responsibilities.
Article I Section 8 of the Constitution says that the Congress shall
have power to provide for the common defense, and the power to declare
war.
With this supplemental spending measure, the Congress is exercising
its responsibility to provide for the common defense.
In a later resolution, we will address the issue of authorizing the
President to use force.
The money we provide today--$40 billion--could very well be the down
payment for our ultimate investment in this great endeavor.
And what a great endeavor it is.
To make America and the world a safer place by defeating once and for
all these sworn enemies of common decency and the American way of life.
No payment that we make today can really make up for the loss of life
that occurred on September 11, 2001.
Those poor innocent souls, those husbands and wives, and brothers and
sisters, parents and children will not be coming back from the
treachery of our enemy.
But we can start the process of rebuilding, of healing, and of
preparing our nation for this greatest cause of this newest century.
We must eliminate the scourge of terrorism.
The American people have faced great challenges in the past.
On July 4, 1776, our founding fathers decided to challenge tyranny.
After we won our freedom, we constructed the world's greatest
Constitution and created a stable and thriving democracy.
We faced dark days when our nation was torn asunder in a civil war.
We came together after that War Between the States to become the savior
of Europe in the First World War.
The Empire of Japan deliberately attacked us on December 7, 1941, and
we emerged as the greatest defender of the free world.
We faced down communism in a painful cold war and emerged as the
world's sole superpower.
And now, after this greatest of American tragedies, we face the
greatest of challenges.
I am comforted by the work of the President and his team. They are
assembling a worldwide coalition of civilized nations. These nations
look to the United States for leadership and want to join us on this
great crusade.
We will provide that leadership.
We have a job to do in this Congress, and this supplemental spending
bill is an important part of that responsibility.
I ask my colleagues to join with me in supporting our President, in
supporting our Constitution, and in supporting the American way of
life.
Vote for the supplemental spending bill and do your job as a
representative of the American people.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R.
2888, a supplemental appropriation designated to assist our nation's
collective response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack against
the people of America.
Mr. Speaker, this supplemental appropriation is quite different from
any other supplemental appropriation that members of this body will
ever consider. Recovery operations are well underway at the Pentagon
and the World Trade Center sites and this process is expensive.
I am pleased that the House and the Senate have come together again,
in a bipartisan fashion, to provide the necessary funds to pay for the
equipment and man hours deployed by federal and state agencies in order
to start the healing process. Additionally the legislation includes the
instructions of consultation with and review by the U.S. Congress.
As we debate this supplemental appropriation, thousands of rescue
workers have been deployed to remove debris, investigate crimes, and
most importantly provide medical and other forms of assistance for the
human suffering that will remain etched in our minds for days to come.
Mr. Speaker this supplemental provides $40 billion immediately to
help our country reinforce the confidence in its great democracy which
has weathered other storms. Although it may take some time, we, as a
nation, will move beyond this point with the help of God.
No price is too great to pay, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to doing
what is necessary to let the cowards of this world know that America
will not be shaken spiritually or financially by individuals who have
permitted hate to control their hearts and minds.
I want to point out, Mr. Speaker, that the children of this nation
have been greatly impacted by those cowardly acts that took place in
New York City and at the Pentagon. Many parents will never return home
to their children and as a result, we in this body must make sure that
we provide the necessary support to help our children adjust.
I hope that the President will use his discretion to spend the funds
provided under H.R. 2888 in a manner that places a high priority on
children and their special needs during these difficult times.
Also, the funds that we provide through this supplemental
appropriations will be provided to the state and affected local
governments in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania to remove debris, to
conduct emergency services related to the disaster, and to replace
public facilities damaged by the explosions and fires. Also, these
funds will be used to investigate, or prosecute domestic or
international terrorism.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the bill is considered
read for amendment and the previous question is ordered.
The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was
read the third time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on passage of the bill.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the yeas and nays are ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 422,
nays 0, not voting 9, as follows:
[Roll No. 341]
YEAS--422
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Aderholt
Akin
Allen
Andrews
Armey
Baca
Bachus
Baird
Baker
Baldacci
Baldwin
Barcia
Barr
Barrett
Bartlett
Barton
Bass
Becerra
Bentsen
Bereuter
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Biggert
Bilirakis
Bishop
Blagojevich
Blumenauer
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonior
Bono
Borski
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Brown (FL)
Brown (OH)
Brown (SC)
Bryant
Burr
Burton
Buyer
Callahan
Calvert
Camp
Cannon
Cantor
Capito
Capps
Capuano
Cardin
Carson (IN)
Carson (OK)
Castle
Chabot
Chambliss
Clay
Clayton
Clement
Clyburn
Coble
Collins
Combest
Condit
Cooksey
Costello
Cox
Coyne
Cramer
Crane
Crenshaw
Crowley
Cubin
Culberson
Cummings
Cunningham
Davis (CA)
Davis (FL)
Davis, Jo Ann
Davis, Tom
Deal
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
DeLay
DeMint
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart
[[Page H5631]]
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Dooley
Doolittle
Doyle
Dreier
Duncan
Dunn
Edwards
Ehlers
Ehrlich
Emerson
Engel
English
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Everett
Fattah
Ferguson
Filner
Flake
Fletcher
Foley
Forbes
Ford
Fossella
Frank
Frelinghuysen
Frost
Gallegly
Ganske
Gekas
Gephardt
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gilman
Gonzalez
Goode
Goodlatte
Gordon
Goss
Graham
Granger
Graves
Green (TX)
Green (WI)
Greenwood
Grucci
Gutierrez
Gutknecht
Hall (OH)
Hall (TX)
Hansen
Harman
Hart
Hastert
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Hayworth
Hefley
Herger
Hill
Hilleary
Hilliard
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hobson
Hoeffel
Hoekstra
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hooley
Horn
Hostettler
Houghton
Hoyer
Hulshof
Hunter
Hyde
Inslee
Isakson
Israel
Issa
Istook
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Jenkins
John
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Jones (OH)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Keller
Kelly
Kennedy (MN)
Kennedy (RI)
Kerns
Kildee
Kind (WI)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Kleczka
Knollenberg
Kolbe
Kucinich
LaFalce
LaHood
Lampson
Langevin
Lantos
Largent
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latham
LaTourette
Leach
Lee
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lewis (KY)
LoBiondo
Lofgren
Lowey
Lucas (KY)
Lucas (OK)
Luther
Maloney (CT)
Maloney (NY)
Manzullo
Markey
Mascara
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McCrery
McDermott
McGovern
McHugh
McInnis
McIntyre
McKeon
McKinney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Menendez
Mica
Millender-McDonald
Miller (FL)
Miller, Gary
Miller, George
Mink
Mollohan
Moore
Moran (KS)
Moran (VA)
Morella
Murtha
Myrick
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Nethercutt
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nussle
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Osborne
Ose
Otter
Owens
Oxley
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor
Paul
Payne
Pelosi
Pence
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Phelps
Pickering
Pitts
Platts
Pombo
Pomeroy
Portman
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Putnam
Quinn
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Regula
Rehberg
Reyes
Reynolds
Riley
Rivers
Rodriguez
Roemer
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Ross
Rothman
Roukema
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Rush
Ryan (WI)
Ryun (KS)
Sabo
Sanchez
Sanders
Sandlin
Sawyer
Schaffer
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrock
Scott
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Sherman
Sherwood
Shimkus
Shows
Shuster
Simmons
Simpson
Skeen
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Solis
Souder
Spratt
Stark
Stearns
Stenholm
Strickland
Stump
Stupak
Sununu
Sweeney
Tancredo
Tanner
Tauscher
Tauzin
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Terry
Thomas
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thornberry
Thune
Thurman
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Tierney
Toomey
Towns
Traficant
Turner
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Upton
Velazquez
Visclosky
Vitter
Walden
Walsh
Wamp
Waters
Watkins (OK)
Watson (CA)
Watt (NC)
Watts (OK)
Waxman
Weiner
Weldon (FL)
Weller
Wexler
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson
Wolf
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NOT VOTING--9
Ballenger
Conyers
Davis (IL)
Farr
Kilpatrick
Linder
Lipinski
Saxton
Weldon (PA)
{time} 1045
Announcement By the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cooksey) (during the vote). The Chair
has an announcement.
The Chair announces that the electronic system is temporarily
inoperative. The vote will be held open until all Members are recorded.
The Clerk will retrieve the names of all Members already recorded
electronically from the board. The Chair will then combine these votes
that have been recorded electronically with the tally cards being
signed by the Members. Together this will constitute a valid vote.
Members are encouraged to confirm their vote by filling out a ballot
card.
The vote will proceed.
{time} 1101
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). The Chair has a further
announcement.
The current vote will remain open until Members return from the
memorial service in order to confirm their votes.
{time} 1412
So the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________