Congress hammers out bills related to terror

Benjamin Grove

Monday, Oct. 15, 2001 | 9:50 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Congress is a beehive of activity as the nation's lawmakers swarm over numerous terrorism-related bills stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks.

On the table is a wide variety of legislation that would do everything from stimulate the economy to create a "Sept. 11 Heroes" stamp. Steel-state lawmakers even introduced a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that "the United States should place a priority on using steel produced in the United States in order to help rebuild our Nation."

Nevada's lawmakers are in on the action, too, leading charges on several bills and quietly massaging others. From under the deluge of legislation on Capitol Hill, it's not clear in all cases what will happen to their legislation.

In one effort, Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., is drafting legislation that would require an analysis of terrorism risks to the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site.

The legislation would direct the new Office of Homeland Security led by Tom Ridge to launch in-depth studies of risks at Yucca, in addition to potential threats to the trucks and trains that would haul waste cross-country to Yucca, Berkley said.

Berkley is optimistic about the bill's chances, despite the influence of pro-Yucca lawmakers who do not support legislation that further delays the project.

Berkley announced on Oct. 4 that she planned to introduce the legislation. Since then she has been seeking support for the bill from other lawmakers and plotting strategy, spokesman Michael O'Donovan said.

Berkley, who was touring ground zero in New York today, was chosen on Friday by House Democratic leaders to serve on a new Democratic panel called the Homeland Security Task Force, charged with developing domestic security policies.

Meanwhile Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., has launched a behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign to sell fellow House members on his bill that would elevate Ridge's position. Gibbons introduced the Office of Homeland Security Act on Oct. 4 as vice chairman of the new House Intelligence subcommittee on terrorism, which House leaders established last month after the attacks.

Only Congress can make Ridge's post a permanent Cabinet position and give him authority over the budgets of 18 federal agencies that manage their own anti-terrorism programs, Gibbons said. Without the legislation, Ridge won't have the influence he needs to do the job effectively, Gibbons said.

Gibbons has not received overwhelming support so far. As of today, he had 10 co-sponsors in the 435-member House.

Gibbons plans to talk the measure over with Ridge, possibly this week. Many lawmakers -- including Republican House leaders -- are still mulling the legislation and awaiting Ridge's reaction, Gibbons said.

Gibbons said he had anticipated resistance from reluctant lawmakers and a "standard debate" about how much authority Ridge should have over other agencies.

"I'm sure there are those who don't want to change the balance of power with the secretaries of the various departments," Gibbons said. "But that (power balance) changed after Sept. 11."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., as the No. 2 Senate Democrat, is in the thick of several high-profile debates between Congress' top lawmakers and the White House. An important bill under discussion this week is aimed at jump-starting the sputtering economy.

Reid advocates a variety of new spending programs, including multibillion-dollar transportation construction projects, which would "provide sorely needed improvements to our infrastructure system while creating thousands of long-term jobs across the country," Reid wrote in a letter to Bush.

But Bush supports limited new spending. Instead, he backs deep new tax cuts.

One House Republican bill under consideration creates nearly $100 billion in immediate tax relief, plus $12 billion for health and unemployment benefits; Democrats support $75 billion in tax cuts aimed more at low-wage earners.

Nevada's lawmakers differ on the issue of extending unemployment and health-care benefits to displaced workers.

Gibbons supports House legislation to establish $3 billion in grant money that would benefit states such as Nevada hit hard by recent layoffs, spokeswoman Amy Spanbauer said. He supports a Bush-backed plan for more federal money to subsidize the national COBRA health insurance plan for those who qualify, so that unemployed workers would pay less than they normally would under COBRA.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., is considering a new Republican economic stimulus proposal and has not finalized his position, spokeswoman Traci Scott said today.

Berkley has been a vocal supporter of substantial unemployment benefits for laid-off workers.

Reid is mulling those benefits, too. But he is more focused on creating jobs with new infrastructure projects and creating tax incentives that will help tourism industries, spokesman Nathan Naylor said. Among Reid's priorities is a tax incentive to encourage air travel, Naylor said.

Reid is leading the way into other smaller battles. He is pushing to make business meals 100 percent tax deductible. Business meals are now 50 percent deductible.

All four Nevada lawmakers support the full meal tax deduction.

In other news:

* The House on Friday passed a Senate-approved bill supported by Bush that expanded police powers, such as increased surveillance, to track suspected terrorists. In a 337-79 House vote, both Berkley and Gibbons voted for the bill.

* The Senate last week voted 100-0 to approve a broad airline security bill that federalizes thousands of airport workers; authorizes the Federal Aviation Administration to permit pilots to carry guns if airlines approve it; and increases the number of air marshals on flights nationwide. The House debates the bill next. Berkley and Gibbons differ on the issue of federalizing baggage screeners at airports. Berkley supports the proposal; Gibbons opposes federalizing workers but wants more federal oversight and training.

* Ensign put his fingerprints on the airline security bill. He added an amendment that lifted an age restriction on federal air marshals. As long as marshals pass physical requirements, they would not be age-restricted, according to the amendment.

* Gibbons, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, was back in the loop late last week after President Bush one week earlier cut off the flow of classified information to all but eight members of Congress. Bush, citing leaks, halted top-secret briefings on the war on terrorism for members of the House and Senate Intelligence committees, among others. Bush restored the briefings amid new promises of secrecy from lawmakers.