[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23432]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       ADMINISTRATION'S LACK OF COOPERATION WITH 9/11 COMMISSION

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I wish to use leader time to talk briefly 
about another matter I call to my colleagues' attention.
  Late last year, I had the opportunity--indeed the obligation--to work 
on and support the most important commission that has been established 
in all my years in public service.
  In the aftermath of the terrible terrorist attacks of September 11, 
the families of the victims and all Americans turned to their elected 
leaders in the White House and the Congress to help them obtain some 
answers to how this tragedy occurred and what steps should be taken to 
prevent future 9/11s.
  Senate Democrats, led by Senators Lieberman and Torricelli, proposed 
that the best way to provide these answers was to establish a blue-
ribbon, independent panel to carefully sort through all the facts and 
evidence and interview key policymakers.
  The record will clearly show that this commission was strongly 
opposed by the White House. In fact, Vice President Cheney called me 
twice to indicate, incorrectly in my view, that creating such a 
commission could jeopardize the administration's efforts in the war on 
terrorism.
  Other Bush officials in other settings made it clear to the families 
and Democratic and Republican members of Congress that they were less 
than enthusiastic about having a commission examine the 
administration's actions prior to 9/11.
  After it became clear that their opposition was politically 
unsustainable, the administration switched gears and decided to support 
a commission provided that Congress remove several key elements of the 
Lieberman/Torricelli proposal designed to ensure the commission 
functioned as effectively and independently as possible.
  Congress was effectively asked to take it on faith that the executive 
branch would work with the commission on a nonpartisan effort to shed 
light on the tragedy of 9/11.
  Regrettably, that promise has not been realized as the administration 
continues to throw roadblocks in front of the commission's work. In 
July, the Chairman Kean and Vice Chairman Hamilton stated publicly that 
the Bush administration has been slow and unresponsive in producing 
information sought by the commission.
  Shortly after receiving this report, the Senate unanimously approved 
an amendment offered by myself and several other Senate Democrats 
urging the President to immediately and publicly call for all executive 
branch agencies to provide their fullest and most timely cooperation to 
the commission.
  Unfortunately, no such call was issued, 2 more months have elapsed, 
and we have another report from the chairman and vice chairman that 
should provide no comfort to those seeking the truth about what 
happened on 9/11. While stating that administration cooperation has 
improved, at the half-way mark of the commission's life, Chairman Kean 
said, ``We have not got everything. We have not gotten everything that 
we feel we need to do our job.''
  Chairman Hamilton indicated that the commission's work is at a crunch 
point and that unless the commissioners receive satisfactory 
cooperation from the White House the Commission will be unable to meet 
its May, 2004 reporting deadline.
  Other commissioners have been more stark in their assessment. 
According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, two 
commissioners said, ``the investigation is still hampered by heel-
dragging by the White House and federal agencies.''
  Despite the administration's attitude toward the creation of this 
commission, all of us who supported it hoped that once established the 
administration would recognize the significance and importance of its 
work and cooperate fully.
  We all owe an immense debt of gratitude to the commissioners for 
their hard work and dedication to this effort. Each of them has already 
spent countless hours on this task and the families and the nation 
appreciate their work. It would be a shame if the administration's lack 
of cooperation prevented them from completing their important task.
  As Vice Chairman Hamilton's remarks indicate, time is running out on 
the administration to reverse course and do right by this 
investigation. Time is running out on the commission to get the 
information it needs to complete their work. And time is running out on 
the families and all Americans to get the answers they deserve. I urge 
the administration to immediately and completely cooperate with the 
commission so this work can be completed successfully to the 
expectations of those families who have given so much.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.

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