[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 18854-18855]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  21ST CENTURY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, before the Senator from Vermont leaves the 
floor, on a totally different matter, I direct some questions to the 
Senator.
  It is 2 p.m. Twenty-four hours ago we were fortunate to get this 
conference report on H.R. 2215. I assumed this matter would be out of 
here in a matter of 4 or 5 minutes. I thought maybe Senator Leahy and 
Senator Hatch would talk about what a great piece of work was done in 
conference. It is 24

[[Page 18855]]

hours later and this legislation has gone nowhere. In fact, the 
majority last night learned there would not be even a vote allowed, and 
we had to file cloture.
  This legislation deals with combating terrorism. It is entitled: 21st 
Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act. The 
title says it all. It is true, is it not, this deals with fortifying 
the national border security by authorizing more than $4 billion?
  Mr. LEAHY. I say to my friend, the deputy majority leader, it does.
  We realize, as the Senator from Nevada has pointed out, we have 
problems with our borders. We have to enhance our ability to monitor 
the borders and still keep the open borders of this country. But it 
will be expensive. We put this in.
  Incidentally, we put this in with the strong support of the 
administration.
  Mr. REID. Is it true, I ask my friend, we have funding for Centers 
for Domestic Preparedness throughout the country? Is it true we have 
legislation to improve implementation of a treaty banning terrorist 
financing? Does it deal with FBI, allow FBI agents who are in duty 
stations that are perilous to receive extra money? We have heard 
reports a better job needs to be done with the communications, and it 
covers that. It covers penalties for the criminals who use body armor.
  I could go on literally for 15 minutes talking about what is in this 
conference report. There are other Senators who wish to speak. Can the 
Senator give me any reason why this most important piece of legislation 
for the people of Nevada, Vermont, and the rest of the country is not 
passing?
  Mr. LEAHY. I know one reason. It passed the other body 400 to 4. It 
came over here. I was asked if we had any objection to moving it 
quickly. I said, absolutely not. We checked every single member on the 
Democratic side of the aisle, and they said they would vote for it, 
every man and woman. But we had a hold put on it from the Republican 
side of the aisle. They have held it up. They have delayed it. I cannot 
understand why.
  Money laundering by terrorists is covered. President Bush, shortly 
after the attack of September 11 last year, took extraordinary steps to 
try to choke off some of the sources of financing of these terrorist 
groups. I applauded the President for doing that. I thought it was the 
right thing.
  However, there are some major areas we could not pursue without 
further legislation, which the administration strongly supports, and 
which Republicans and Democrats strongly support.
  That is part of this bill. I would like to turn the spigot off for 
terrorists' money. That is in this bill.
  The President of the United States would sign this bill immediately 
once it got onto his desk. Why the Republicans are holding it up, 
frankly, I don't know. I know they are holding it up, but I don't know 
why, especially when the President of the United States would sign 
this. There is much antiterrorism in here, everything from the 
authorization of Boys and Girls Clubs to hazardous duty pay for Federal 
law enforcement officers.
  This is sort of like voting to acknowledge the sun rises in the east. 
I don't know what the controversy is.
  Mr. REID. The reason it is being held up is the same reason our 13 
appropriations bills are being held up, the same reason the election 
reform, conference reports, bankruptcy, terrorism, Patients' Bill of 
Rights, generic drugs, all these most important pieces of legislation 
are held up. It appears clearly they want to be able to say the Senate, 
controlled by the Democrats, has been unable to accomplish anything. 
However, we cannot accomplish anything unless we get help from the 49 
on the other side. They are trying to show their strength in not 
allowing us to do anything.
  Mr. LEAHY. The Senator is right. Unfortunately, in holding this up, 
they are taking from the President of the United States tools needed to 
fight international terrorism. They are turning their back on the law 
enforcement people of this country.
  We have an authorization for a charter change for the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars, something they have all supported, we have all supported, 
Democrats are all for. Republicans are holding that up. There was a 
charter change in here for the American Legion. All 51 on this side of 
the aisle have supported it. It is being held up on the Republican 
side. AMVETS, a charter change for American Veterans. That is being 
held up by the other side. We support it.
  This may be the kind of political posturing people think they have to 
have in an election year. I think it is a crying shame.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Reed). The Senator from Illinois.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, before I make a few comments about the 
state of the economy, let me talk about the state of business in the 
Senate. I concur completely with the Senator from Vermont, chairman of 
the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which I am proud to serve. I cannot 
imagine what is holding up this legislation. This legislation is 
designed to restore law and order in this country. It is designed to 
fight terrorism. There are elements that are absolutely common sense.
  It is the first time, I believe, in over 20 years we are 
reauthorizing the Department of Justice. We are establishing the 
Violence Against Women Act, to protect areas of domestic abuse. We are 
talking about drug abuse education, prevention, and treatment. We have 
a provision in here to provide resources to the Boys and Girls Clubs of 
America, which in the city of Chicago and across my State of Illinois 
are so successful in reaching out to young people.
  Time and time again, this bill addresses things the Department of 
Justice needs. It is quite a commentary on the Senate that the 
Republican minority has held this bill up. They will not let us bring 
it to a vote. They won't let us bring it to the floor. I think it is 
unfortunate. I think we should have a vote on it, and I think if we do 
it will pass overwhelmingly and the President will gladly sign it. But 
we are caught up in a last-minute hurry to try to finish the session, 
and unfortunately some of the most commonsense priorities are victims 
of some political agenda. I hope this does not hold up this bill any 
longer.

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