[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6859]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




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

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 19, 2003

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the United States 
Commission on an Open Society and Security Act, expressing an idea I 
have been working on since well before 9-11. For years now before our 
eyes, parts of our open society have gradually been closed down because 
of fear of terrorism. Such actions have accelerated and with war coming 
now, even more so. For example, Pennsylvania Avenue has just been 
closed to pedestrians, isolating the country's most visible landmark 
from the American people and connection to the President. The bill I 
introduce today would begin a systematic investigation that takes full 
account of the importance of maintaining our democratic traditions 
while responding adequately to the real and substantial threats 
terrorism poses.
  These years in our history will be remembered 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 ever-
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 which, to be useful in meeting the multiple 
problems raised, would have a careful balance of members representative 
of a cross section of disciplines. 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, or risking the right to privacy with the 
misapplication of the latest technology. 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 
men and women expert in 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 and traditions.

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