[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17905]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        REAL SECURITY AMENDMENT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, shortly there will be a debate on an 
amendment that was offered on my behalf and a number of other 
Democrats.
  It is an amendment that would implement all 41 recommendations of the 
bipartisan 9/11 Commission.
  The amendment would equip our intelligence community to fight 
terrorists. In effect, what it would do is go back to what we have been 
doing for 27 years; that is, allow the Intelligence Committee every 
year to have a bill before this body, to allow them to update what 
needs to be done so they can proceed with intelligence activities in 
our country and around the rest of the world. We did not authorize the 
Intelligence Committee's work for the first time in 28 years last year. 
Now, this year, we have not done it again. This amendment would put 
that in effect.
  Third, the amendment would secure our ports, rails, roads, airports, 
chemical and nuclear plants, and mass transit systems.
  Fourth, the amendment would refocus America on the war on terror. I 
went into that in some detail yesterday.
  Fifth, the amendment would provide better, updated tools to bring 
terrorists to justice.
  Finally, the amendment would change course in Iraq. Certainly that is 
something the American people deserve and want.
  Yesterday in Iraq, 65 Iraqis were found dead, a number of them 
beheaded, one with a note saying: Anyone that cooperates with 
Americans, this is what is going to happen to them. In addition to 
that, scores of others were killed in bombing incidents around the 
country. Two American soldiers were killed.
  So the amendment would change course in Iraq. Americans deserve real 
security. This bill is real security. The amendment is real security. I 
ask colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting this 
amendment.
  I yield the floor, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from West Virginia.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, may I proceed?
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. You may.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. I thank the President pro tempore.

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