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American Morning
President Bush Will Sign Terror-Related Legislation Today
Aired November 27, 2002 - 09:32 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A few minutes from now, in fact, 20 minutes from that right now, President Bush will sign terror-related legislation in the act that includes a provision to create this independent commission that will look into intelligence failures before the 9/11.
Kathleen Koch now from the White House with a quick preview of what we'll see in a couple of minutes.
Kathleen, good morning.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
As you pointed out, this bill does cover a couple of different goals. Firstly, it does set up this panel for the -- it will have a probe at what the federal government did and didn't do as far as trying prevent the 9/11 terror attacks, and also beefing up intelligence spending to make sure such tragedies do not happen again.
There will be a record increase in intelligence spending for agencies like the CIA, the FBI, the NSA, defense intelligence and the National Reconnaissance Office.
Now, when it does come to the 9/11 terrorism commission, the president until just two months ago, had opposed setting up such a panel. The White House believed that only Congress should investigate the 9/11 terrorist attacks and that opening up a broad inquiry could actually hamper administration efforts to fight terrorism and to perhaps even lead to leaks that could compromise intelligence gathering. And there were also concerns the panel would be overly political.
But the president was eventually won over by primarily by family members of 9/11 victims who spoke out very vigorously supporting such a panel, and the panel will be composed of 10 members, half of them Republicans, half of them Democrats, and the president himself will be able to name the chairman.
Now when it comes to a specifics on prevention, on the new monies that will be spent, there will be some $35 billion that will be appropriated. It will go to things, such as setting up a database of known or suspected international terrorists, setting up a new center to help intelligence agencies more quickly translate key foreign languages, and then also promote the study of languages that are deemed to be key to intelligence efforts.
Now of course this is the third major bill signing that the president has participated in in as many days. On Monday, he signed the homeland security bill. Tuesday, OK'ing the measure guaranteeing the availability of terrorism insurance. Today's signing is expected to be a little more tranquil affair, not as many people in attendance. Many members of Congress will be there on the intelligence committees.
HEMMER: We know the president's off to Crawford, Texas for Thanksgiving. He'll go there when?
KOCH: He'll leave about a half hour after the signing ceremony. When I was leaving this morning, I saw the truck coming to the White House hauling in Christmas trees. By the time he gets back Sunday, this place will be transformed for the holidays -- Bill.
HEMMER: Just that time of year. I like to see it. Thanks, Kathleen. You have a good Turkey Day, all right?
KOCH: You, too.
HEMMER: All right, Kathleen Koch at the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 27, 2002 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A few minutes from now, in fact, 20 minutes from that right now, President Bush will sign terror-related legislation in the act that includes a provision to create this independent commission that will look into intelligence failures before the 9/11.
Kathleen Koch now from the White House with a quick preview of what we'll see in a couple of minutes.
Kathleen, good morning.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
As you pointed out, this bill does cover a couple of different goals. Firstly, it does set up this panel for the -- it will have a probe at what the federal government did and didn't do as far as trying prevent the 9/11 terror attacks, and also beefing up intelligence spending to make sure such tragedies do not happen again.
There will be a record increase in intelligence spending for agencies like the CIA, the FBI, the NSA, defense intelligence and the National Reconnaissance Office.
Now, when it does come to the 9/11 terrorism commission, the president until just two months ago, had opposed setting up such a panel. The White House believed that only Congress should investigate the 9/11 terrorist attacks and that opening up a broad inquiry could actually hamper administration efforts to fight terrorism and to perhaps even lead to leaks that could compromise intelligence gathering. And there were also concerns the panel would be overly political.
But the president was eventually won over by primarily by family members of 9/11 victims who spoke out very vigorously supporting such a panel, and the panel will be composed of 10 members, half of them Republicans, half of them Democrats, and the president himself will be able to name the chairman.
Now when it comes to a specifics on prevention, on the new monies that will be spent, there will be some $35 billion that will be appropriated. It will go to things, such as setting up a database of known or suspected international terrorists, setting up a new center to help intelligence agencies more quickly translate key foreign languages, and then also promote the study of languages that are deemed to be key to intelligence efforts.
Now of course this is the third major bill signing that the president has participated in in as many days. On Monday, he signed the homeland security bill. Tuesday, OK'ing the measure guaranteeing the availability of terrorism insurance. Today's signing is expected to be a little more tranquil affair, not as many people in attendance. Many members of Congress will be there on the intelligence committees.
HEMMER: We know the president's off to Crawford, Texas for Thanksgiving. He'll go there when?
KOCH: He'll leave about a half hour after the signing ceremony. When I was leaving this morning, I saw the truck coming to the White House hauling in Christmas trees. By the time he gets back Sunday, this place will be transformed for the holidays -- Bill.
HEMMER: Just that time of year. I like to see it. Thanks, Kathleen. You have a good Turkey Day, all right?
KOCH: You, too.
HEMMER: All right, Kathleen Koch at the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
