Congress moves to change US way of life

WASHINGTON - In the wake of the unprecedented terror attacks on the United States, Congress is moving on a crush of proposals that would bolster security, curb civil liberties and clearly change the American way of life.

The measures would make it easier for the FBI to track individuals, tighten airport check-in policy, funnel more money into intelligence gathering, create a new office to combat terrorism, give a financial hand to the airlines and even allow Americans to contribute to the war on terror and to relief for the victims by buying new "Unity Bonds."

"We are in a new world," said House of Representatives Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, a Missouri Democrat.

"We have to rebalance freedom and security," he said. "We can't take away people's civil liberties. But we are not going to have all the openness and freedom we have had."

On Friday it was an open question what Congress would ultimately pass and send to President George W. Bush for his signature.

Many members urged caution. But virtually all agreed Congress must do what it can to try to prevent a repeat of the strikes on Tuesday by hijacked airliners that destroyed the World Trade Center and heavily damaged the Pentagon.

"We are in a race to the finish line with agents of terror," said Sen. Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican. "Will we enhance our security ... before they are able to strike again?"

On late Thursday, the Senate approved on a voice vote a measure to expedite the ability of the FBI to track electronic communications by suspected terrorists.

Kyl offered the measure as an amendment to a spending bill, saying civil libertarians had thwarted previous such efforts despite pleas from law enforcement.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican, said the measure extended current standards for the use of wiretaps in investigating crimes like gambling and mail fraud to investigations into suspected terrorists.

"This says now we can wiretap for terrorism. The same principles and standards of proof have to be there," Sessions said. "You've got to prove not only that the person's probably guilty but that he's using the communications in the crime."

But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, called the measure overly broad and an encroachment on civil liberties.

"We have to be careful that in our horror and revulsion over this horrendous and terrible act that we don't start giving away the freedoms that make us different from terrorists," Leahy said.

Several Democrats said many senators did not know exactly what they were voting on, and supported the measure in their determination to condemn terrorism.

Leahy's panel will review it before the bill to fund the departments of Commerce, Justice and State that Kyl's amendment was attached to goes to conference with the House. The House bill, passed in July, does not have such a provision.

Lawmakers are also trying to craft legislation to help the nation's airlines respond to massive revenue losses and liability problems from this week's terror attacks.

"We're very aware that they have problems and we are going to bring legislation in a bipartisan way to deal with it," Gephardt said.

There has also been growing talk on Capitol Hill about offering legislation that would have the US government take over airport security screening from private operations.

Members of the House aviation subcommittee said they would soon introduce a bill to "federalize" airport scanning systems now run by low-paid airport staffers, and limit all passengers to one carry-on bag.

"We are all going to have to make sacrifices," said Sen. Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican. "It's going to take longer to get to the airport and get on a plane. It's going to take longer to come into the country and leave the country."

"There may be significant security needs in the area of our water supply and local transportation," Gregg said. "We as a nation are going to regrettably have to adjust. But we are resilient nation, and I think people understand."

- REUTERS

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