Federal News Service - Transcript: Panel II of a Hearing of the House Government Reform Committee

Federal News Service

HEADLINE: PANEL II OF A HEARING OF THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE

SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION

CHAIRED BY: REPRESENTATIVE TOM DAVIS (R-VA)

WITNESSES: SALLY REGENHARD, FAMILY MEMBER OF 9/11 VICTIM; BEVERLY ECKERT, FAMILY MEMBER OF 9/11 VICTIM; ROBIN WIENER, FAMILY MEMBER OF 9/11 VICTIM

LOCATION: 2154 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C.

BODY:

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

REP. DANNY DAVIS: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank all three of you for your very well thought out, developed, and passionate testimony.

Even though you've not elected officials, you know about timetables, you know about schedules, and you know about the legislative process. I think it may have been you, Ms. Eckert, who indicated that terrorism didn't take a recess, or didn't have a recess.

While most people that I hear are in agreement that the recommendations need to be implemented, we're already beginning to hear some people suggest that there may not be enough time this year, or that maybe the implementation should occur after the election. And it seems to me that we need to move as expeditiously as possible, in order to put in place as quickly as we can this set of recommendations.

Do you think that there, and each one of you might respond, that there is actually enough time to do a good review of looking at the recommendations, going through the process before the election in November, rather than after the election?

MS. ECKERT: I do, because even this position of Director of National Intelligence is not new. We're new at this, and we're trying to learn the ropes, and to keep up, but honestly, as far as I've heard this debate has been going on since 1947. So I think the time for the debate on something like that is over. It failed, we did not have a Director of National Intelligence, and therefore the process didn't work. I think if people simply acknowledge that you do have the information.

The Commission worked long and hard to have hearings, and get testimony, and I know you're going to hear from some of those same people, and it's your responsibility to do that. But, I want to use the phrase expedited, this isn't a real good example of an expedited hearing, because I know it's lasting very long. But, I think it can be done, I think it can be done if there is zeal, energy, and commitment.

MS. WIENER: If I could add to this, we certainly recognize that a number of the recommendations are longer-term, but longer-term doesn't mean you start later. You still start now, it just may take a longer amount of time to get them ultimately implemented. My fear is that if we want until after the election to start even discussing some of these other recommendations that we will never get to them.

I'm looking at the list again, the ones that are closest to my heart, the ones on preventing the continued growth of Islamist terrorism, things like define the message, and stand as an example of moral leadership in the world, I'm just quoting from the report, offer an agenda of opportunity that includes support for public education and economic openness. You can't achieve those by election day, I wish we could. But, certainly the discussion has to begin now or it will never occur.

So I urge you that when we say all the recommendations have to be done simultaneously, we're talking for some of the longer-term ones about at least starting the discussions simultaneously, because some of these will certainly require a certain amount of debate, and they all don't. For some of these I recognize it's not just passing a bill, there's more that has to be done within agencies, there are policy shifts that have to occur. But, please, I really urge you to start thinking about them now.

MS. REGENHARD: I have to say that, again, I agree with my colleagues on their statements. I have to also say that I really appreciated hearing from Ms. Watson hear comments regarding to keep some of these commission members involved. I think it would be a shame to have this wonderful Commission just go away now, and leave it up to agencies and other people to start reinventing the wheel. In some way, shape, or form I would like to see people who have become experts in this arduous process to be part of the solution now, part of the implementation. Let them guide the agencies, people whose responsibility it will be to enact, in some type of way, keep them connected with it, and keep that momentum.

One of the congresspersons said something about losing the momentum, you know, we can't really lose the momentum because so much of life is in the momentum, and we don't have time to waste to lose it.

REP. DANNY DAVIS: Well, I certainly agree with each one of you, and I want to commend you again for your courage, your tenacity and fortitude and thank you very much for your testimony.

MS. REGENHARD: Thank you very much.

REP. DAVIS: Thank you. Ms. Blackburn.