[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22820]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  INTRODUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON SECURITY IN AN OPEN 
                              SOCIETY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 2000

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the United States 
Commission on Security in an Open Society Act, expressing an idea I 
have been working on for two years. Before our eyes, parts of our open 
society are gradually being closed down because of fear of terrorism. 
This act would begin a systematic response that takes full account of 
the importance of maintaining our democratic traditions while 
responding adequately to the real and substantial threat terrorism 
poses.
  The bill I introduce today is being simultaneously introduced by the 
gentleman from New York, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who is 
retiring this year. His unique career, as the Senate's intellectual 
leader, and as architect of the revival of Pennsylvania Avenue and a 
good deal of the rest of the renaissance of the Nation's Capital makes 
him the perfect partner for this bill. Because the bill embodies much 
of the breadth of concerns of the man and his career, I believe that 
the passage of the United States Commission on Security in an Open 
Society Act during this Congress would be another fitting tribute to 
Senator Moynihan's service.
  Recent history has been marked by the rise of terrorism in the world 
and in this country. As a result, American society faces new and 
unprecedented challenges. We must provide higher levels of security for 
our people and public spaces while maintaining a free and open 
democratic society. As yet, our country has no systematic process or 
strategy for meeting these challenges.
  When we have been faced with unprecedented and perplexing issues in 
the past, we have had the good sense to investigate them deeply and to 
move to resolve them. Examples include the Warren Commission following 
the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the Kerner 
Commission following riotous uprisings that swept American cities in 
the 1960's and 1970's.
  The problems associated with worldwide terrorism are of similar 
importance and dimension. The Act requires that a commission be 
presidentially appointed because to be useful in meeting the multiple 
problems raised, a careful balance of members representative of a cross 
section of disciplines will be necessary. To date, questions of 
security most often have been left to security and military experts. 
They are indispensable participants, but they cannot alone resolve all 
the issues raised by terrorism in an open society. In order to strike 
the balance required by our traditions, constitution and laws, a cross 
cutting group representing our best and wisest minds needs to be 
working at the same table.
  With only existing tools and thinking, we have been left to muddle 
through, using blunt 19th century approaches, such as crude blockades 
and other denials of access. The threat of terrorism to our democratic 
society is too serious to be left to ad hoc problem-solving. Such 
approaches are often as inadequate as they are menacing.
  We can do better, but only if we recognize and then come to grips 
with the complexities associated with maintaining a society with free 
and open access in a world characterized by unprecedented terrorism. 
The place to begin is with a high-level presidential commission of wise 
experts from an array of disciplines who can help chart the new course 
that will be required to protect both our people and our precious 
democratic institutions.

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