[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 26, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8398-S8399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 1
Mr. REID. Mr. President, despite the fact that we are fast
approaching the 6-year anniversary since the terrible terrorist attacks
of September 11, it is painfully clear we have much work left
[[Page S8399]]
to do to protect this Nation from these awful attacks. Osama bin Laden
and his No. 2 still remain at large, and al-Qaida has grown in strength
and is determined to attack globally. The administration's failed Iraq
policy has catalyzed a whole new generation of extremists who can be
expected to carry out attacks against the U.S. and our friends around
the world. Objective analyses, including the final report of the 9/11
Commission, conclude that this Nation has failed to take the steps
necessary to protect America from terrorist attacks.
We need only go back to look at the report card the Bush
administration received in implementing the 9/11 Commission Report: Ds
and Fs. The threats the 9/11 Commission talked about and are
encompassed in this bill are real and growing. When Democrats took
control of the Congress at the start of this year, we said we would
finally and fully implement the unanimous recommendations of the
bipartisan 9/11 Commission. It is something we fought for when we were
in the minority, and it was one of the first bills we passed at the
start of this session of Congress.
The House passed its version early this year, January 9, by a vote of
299 to 128--broad bipartisan support. We passed our bill on March 13.
It, too, had bipartisan support, passing 60 to 38.
As my colleagues know, Democrats and Republicans who serve on the
House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over this bill have
worked tirelessly to resolve the differences in these two bills. I have
had numerous conversations with Chairman Lieberman. This preconference
process has carried on for months, on a bipartisan basis, with full
transparency and good-faith efforts to produce a final bill. Progress
has been made.
The American people, though, don't expect progress. They expect
results, and that is what we need. We need to finish the work on this
bill yesterday--as soon as possible. That is why I believe we need to
take the next procedural step to finish these negotiations, to appoint
conferees. That is what we normally would do.
When this bill is finally signed into law, it will make America more
secure. It will improve the morale, training, and efficiency of the TSA
screening workforce, allowing them to work more effectively to protect
air travelers. It will improve the screening of all maritime cargo--all
maritime cargo--so Americans can be assured we are doing all we can to
prevent the smuggling of weapons--even a nuclear weapon--through
America's ports. It will improve the congressional oversight of
intelligence to be sure we are building the best capabilities possible
to stop terrorist attacks. It will improve communication sharing and
communications interoperability among first responders so they can work
swiftly to protect us from terrorist attacks. It will ensure that
transportation and mass transit infrastructures are hardened against
terrorist attacks.
We need to work together to protect the American people from
terrorism, and we need to do so immediately. We asked numerous times in
the last Congress to be able to finish the 9/11 bill, and we were
denied that ability. I would hope that this unanimous consent request
allowing us to go to conference would be granted.
I am told the minority is going to object to this request that we go
to conference. That is too bad. Although Senate Republicans have thrown
procedural hurdles in front of virtually everything we have tried to do
in the Senate this year, I was hoping they would reconsider their
obstruction when it comes to getting through legislation that makes
America more secure. There have been issues raised, but couldn't we
handle these in conference?
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration
of H.R. 1, and that the Senate then proceed to its immediate
consideration; that all after the enacting clause be stricken and the
text of S. 4, as passed by the Senate on March 13, 2007, be inserted in
lieu thereof; that the bill be read a third time, passed, and the
motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that the Senate insist on
its amendment, request a conference with the House on the disagreeing
votes of the two Houses, and the Chair be authorized to appoint
conferees on the part of the Senate, with the above occurring without
intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, on behalf of the minority, I object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I say to my distinguished friend, the
Senator from Oklahoma, we are glad to have you back. We are glad the
medical procedure went well and that you are back with the same
fighting spirit you had the first day you came here. We are happy to
have you back.
Mr. President, I will renew my request at a subsequent time, and
probably a few more times, until we get this done. I think a number of
people have had calls from the 9/11 survivors, those people who lost
loved ones in the 9/11 attack. They want us to get this done. We need
to get this done. This is an issue that affects the safety and security
of our Nation.
So I would hope that there would be a reconsideration of this
objection at a subsequent time because I am going to continue to offer
this until we are able to go to conference.
Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the
quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________