Mary Fetchet and Other 9/11 Family Members Testify Before Senate
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VOICES Founding Director Mary Fetchet joined other 9/11 family members this week to testify at a U.S. Senate committee hearing on the status of the 9/11 Commission recommendations. The hearing, held Tuesday morning by the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) and its chairman Sen. Joe Lieberman (I(D)-CT), was meant to refocus Congress’ attention on the 9/11 Commission Recommendations that have yet to be addressed. Ms. Fetchet’s testimony urged quick Congressional action on a variety of unfulfilled recommendations including interoperable communications, information sharing, risk-based funding, and Congressional reform. VOICES family advisory board member Carol Ashley and 9/11 family member Carie Lemack also added testimony on the recommendations. The three were joined by other family members Frank Fetchet, Abe Scott and Rosemary Dillard at a press conference in support of new action on the Recommendations. In the picture above, Mary Fetchet addresses the press as Rev. Bill Minson, Frank Fetchet and Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) look on.
All three advocates played a leading role in creating the 9/11 Commission, and were lauded by Sen. Lieberman as “the heroes of this fight… each one lost a loved one on September 11 th and took that terrible loss and grief and turned it into advocacy for prevention and protection.” They brought the human face of terrorist attacks to the hearing and reminded the Senators that their decisions on reform have real world consequences. Ms. Fetchet said in her testimony: “I believe we must remain vigilant and steadfast in our commitment to ensure the government is doing everything within its power to make our country safer. Voices of September 11th welcomes the opportunity to work with your committee and other like-minded individuals, who feel as I do that no mother, father, wife, child or sibling should suffer the loss we have.”
The hearing also featured 9/11 Commissioners Lee Hamilton, Slade Gorton and Tim Roemer, as well as first responders and Mayor Mike Bloomberg of New York. The hearing was televised on CSPAN, and streaming video as well as transcripts of testimony are available on the Senate HSGAC website. If you are viewing the streaming video and would like to skip directly to the beginning of the 9/11 family members’ testimony, skip 3 hours and 34 minutes into the video.
House Passes Reforms Based on 9/11 Commission Recommendations
Bill Faces Tough Opposition in White House
As 9/11 family members watched from the gallery Tuesday, the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, passed sweeping legislation to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that have languished in Congress. The bill, named H.R. 1 (read text of the bill in THOMAS), lays out an ambitious inspection program for cargo containers shipped into the United States and sets a goal of 100% screening for all cargo loaded onto passenger planes by 2010. Other sections of the bill address controversial topics such as the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, stopping nuclear proliferation, and foreign relations. “Our first and highest responsibility as members of this Congress is to protect the American people, defend our homeland and strengthen national security,” Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) House majority leader is quoted in New York Times Coverage.
H.R. 1 was passed decisively as part of the “First 100 Legislative Hours” agenda of the new Democratic-controlled Congress. 68 Republicans joined a united 231 Democrats in supporting the measure. Click to see a breakdown of the votes by party. During meetings with Senate staffers this week, VOICES was informed that the Homeland Security Governmental Affairs Committee and Senate leadership is drafting a Senate bill in the coming weeks. After the Senate passes its bill, the next step is a House-Senate conference that will produce a final bill for submission to President Bush. The White House issued an almost section-by-section criticism of H.R. 1 in response to the Houses' action. We will continue to monitor the progress of the legislation and keep our membership informed as new information is available.
During debate on H.R. 1, Republicans protested that the bill was railroaded through the House without passing through the customary committee and amendment process. Democrats responded that the Republicans had neglected the 9/11 Commission Recommendations for over two years and that quick action was necessary. Despite pledges of bipartisanship following the November elections, House Democrats have been quick to flex their new legislative muscle over Republican objections. Democrats cheered the bill’s passage, flush with the new power of a strong majority. Republicans resorted to parliamentary delaying tactics, clearly chafing under the frustrations of minority status. During the contentious debate in a crowded House Chamber, temporary Speaker Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa) noted “the only thing bipartisan in here is the noise” as he rapped the gavel and called repeatedly for order.
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