Gillibrand Votes to Send 911 Recommendations to the President – Urges Speedy Signature

Press Release

Gillibrand Votes to Send 911 Recommendations to the President - Urges Speedy Signature

Today, Congresswoman Gillibrand voted for the bipartisan Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act [HR 1] conference report to finally send the 9/11 Commission recommendations legislation to the President to become law. In July 2004, the bipartisan 9/11 Commission submitted its recommendations to Congress on how to better protect America from terrorism. Unfortunately, for the next two and half years, Congress failed to enact the majority of the recommendations into law. Congresswoman Gillibrand was an original co-sponsor of the legislation. [A video of her speech in favor of the legislation on January 9th of this year can be viewed here.]

"This legislation is an important step towards keeping America safe by requiring key investments in port security, airline security and communications infrastructure for our first responders," said Rep. Gillibrand, a member of the influential Armed Services Committee. "In addition to making America safer this bill ties funding to risk assessment - meaning New York State will receive more money than before to protect our families."

The new National Intelligence Estimate, which states that Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network has been able to restore key capabilities for launching another attack on U.S. soil, highlights the importance of the President quickly signing this critical 9/11 bill into law.

Gillibrand added, "Our top priority as Members of Congress should be to secure the homeland and work to prevent terrorist attacks. The fact that this is the first bill of the 110th Congress shows that we are serious about security."

Thomas Kean, Chairman of the 9/11 Commission and former GOP governor of New Jersey, has stated that this 9/11 legislation "is a very big step forward. It will make our nation safer."

KEY PROVISIONS BELOW:

Requires 100% Scanning of Containers Bound for the U.S. Within Five Years. The conference report requires 100% scanning of seaborne containers bound for the U.S. before they leave foreign ports within five years.

Requires 100% Screening of Cargo on Passenger Aircraft Within Three Years. The conference report requires 100% screening of cargo on passenger aircraft within there years, with specific benchmarks established for the three-year phase-in.

Authorizes Additional Investments in Airport Security. The measure authorizes funding increases for critical aviation security programs - including authorizing $250 million annually for checkpoint screening, $450 million annually for baggage screening, and $50 million annually for aviation security R&D.
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Ensures Communications Interoperability for First Responders. The measure improves the communications capabilities of first responders by establishing a stand-alone communications interoperability grant program at the Department of Homeland Security, to ensure that our firefighters and police officers can communicate with each other in the event of an emergency. The bill authorizes $400 million a year for these new interoperability grants - for fiscal years 2009 through 2012.

Provides Risk-Based Allocation of Homeland Security Grants. The measure ensures that homeland security grants will be allocated primarily on the basis of risk, with the risk assessment by the Department of Homeland Security determining each state's funding and the state minimum being lowered from .75% per state to .375% per state (with the state minimum declining to .35% per state over 5 years).

Authorizes Rail and Mass Transit Security Grants. The measure authorizes more than $4 billion over the next five years for security grant programs to enhance the security of mass transit, over-the-road buses, and freight and passenger rail.

Strengthens Intelligence and Information Sharing with Local Law Enforcement. The measure contains several provisions to strengthen intelligence and information sharing with local law enforcement. First, it strengthens state and local intelligence "fusion" centers, which have been established to gather, analyze and disseminate potentially homeland security-relevant information to appropriate state and local officials. Second, it strengthens the presence of federal agencies, such as the Border Patrol, at fusion centers in border states. Thirdly, it improves the Department of Homeland Security's Information Sharing Programs.

Prevents Terrorists from Acquiring WMD. The measure includes a number of provisions to take more aggressive steps to prevent terrorists from acquiring WMD, including: 1) strengthening DOD's Cooperative Threat Reduction (or "Nunn-Lugar") program; 2) strengthening the Energy Department's Global Threat Reduction Initiative; 3) providing for reforms, increased tools and greater oversight over the Proliferation Security Initiative, through which the U.S. and participating countries interdict WMD; and 4) creating a Coordinator for the Prevention of WMD Proliferation, who would serve as a presidential advisor.

Strengthens Efforts to Prevent Terrorist Travel. The measure improves the capabilities of the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center by authorizing additional funding to stem human smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism travel, including requiring the hiring of experienced intelligence analysts in the field of human trafficking and terrorist travel.

Protects Good Faith Reporting of Suspected Terrorist Activity. The measure provides immunity from lawsuits for individuals who report suspicious activity that poses a threat to a passenger transportation system or appears to be an act of terrorism. The measure strikes the right balance between homeland security and civil liberties. To get the protection, a report of suspicious activity must be made in good faith, must be reasonable, and must be made without a reckless disregard for the truth.

Discloses Intelligence Budget Total. As recommended by the 9/11 Commission, the measure provides for the disclosure of the intelligence budget total for FY 2007 and FY 2008. It also includes a provision authorizing a report that could allow the President to waive disclosure after two years if the report finds that the declassification has damaged national security.

Provides for Strategies to Reduce the Appeal of Extremism. The measure contains extensive provisions to reduce the appeal of extremism around the world - including promoting quality educational opportunities, such as the Muslim Youth Opportunity Fund; restoring U.S. moral leadership around the world, with investing in greater public diplomacy efforts; and developing long-term strategies, not focused on elections, to promote democracy and human rights.

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