9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act

9/11 RECOMMENDATIONS IMPLEMENTATION ACT -- (House of Representatives - October 07, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 827 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the further consideration of the bill, H.R. 10.

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Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Menendez substitute to H.R. 10, the only version supported by the House's 9/11 Commission Caucus, the 9/11 families and the legislation most similar to the bill adopted by the Senate yesterday by a 96-2 vote.

This bipartisan substitute fully implements the forty-one 9/11 Commission recommendations and adds no extraneous provisions. It implements critical recommendations not fully addressed by H.R. 10, including the creation of a strong National Intelligence Director and giving that director full budgetary and personal authority, as the 9/11 Commission recommends.

The 9/11 Commission came together because America and the victims' families demanded answers and solutions. The bipartisan group of Commissioners-five Democrats and five Republicans-worked tirelessly to fulfill their commitment to make America safe. We should honor their efforts and fulfill our commitment to America by producing a bill that responds directly to the Commissions' recommendations-with no added controversial or unrelated provisions. The Menendez substitute helps us do just that by ensuring that we have a clean bill on the President's desk before we adjourn.

Let's not play politics with a bill as important to the American people as this one. Pass the Menendez substitute.

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