Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Event/Special

Richard Gephardt Press Conference

Aired November 08, 2001 - 15:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
AARON BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: The ranking Democrat in the House, Richard Gephardt, is before the microphones.

We will dip into this for a little bit before we take a break.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT (D-MO), MINORITY LEADER: ... immediate aftermath of September 11, many of us believe that the attacks requires to adapt to different circumstances.

Instead of spending money on a misguided stimulus package that the Republicans produced in the House aimed at America's wealthiest individuals and corporations, we think Congress should provide a fraction of that money to our public agencies so they can fight the war on the second front here at home.

Agencies have repeatedly said they face immediate needs and must have help from Congress to strengthen homeland defense. We need to pass emergency funding measures for the president to tap if he and Governor Ridge decide it's needed. We should provide adequate resources if needed to increase the supply of smallpox vaccines, as Secretary Thompson has proposed. We should invest in personnel to help agencies respond to public health threats. We should fortify our nuclear facilities, assure the safety of food, and devote resources to help the FBI, Border Patrol and Coast Guard track down terrorists and bring them to justice.

The question here is not the amount we should spend, but what do we focus our resources on? How do we respond to peoples' needs and fairly respond to what's happened in America?

The answer is not complicated. This is not a time for politics as usual. This is not a time for rigid ideology and dogma that does not compute in the world post-September the 11th. This is a time to simply do what is right for the safety and security of the American people.

I know in my heart we have the ability to meet this challenge. Everyone needs to rise to the occasion with common sense and practical solutions to these problems. We look forward to getting the job done in a nonpartisan way before Congress adjourns for the year.

Now, I'd like to call on Dave Obey, our ranking member on appropriations, who will talk more about these issues.

And then we'll hear from Bob Menendez, who chaired our task force on homeland security and, in particular, on bioterrorism.

BROWN: The Democrats in the House getting before the microphones there. You have the minority, of course, in the House laying out there plans for homeland security and the costs of all of that. We'll keep an ear on that for a while.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com