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American Morning

Home Stretch for 107th Congress

Aired September 03, 2002 - 09:04   ET

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

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: It's the home stretch for the 107th Congress, plenty to do at the top of the legislative agenda, the proposed Department of Homeland Security and of course the debate over potential U.S. military action in Iraq.
Let's turn to Kate Snow who is standing by in front of the Capitol, a very familiar spot to her, with a preview.

Good morning, Kate.

KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

You know what it feels like when you come back from a big vacation, and you find this huge stack of work piled up on your desk. That's what Congress faces this morning. They have a lot do in next month and a half, which is how long they plan to meet before they take a break to go out on the campaign trail before those November elections. A lot of people saying that they are not going to get if all done before that time. They may have to come back for a lame-duck session after the November elections. Senator John McCain called it a chaotic month they have ahead of them.

Some things, they simply have to get done, among them 13 spending bills that are hanging out there. They have got to pass spending bills before fiscal year starts again on October 1. Right now, they have gotten exactly zero of them through that Congress. So that's looming.

Another thing they've got on their plate, obviously, Iraq, and that's a real wild card. Their will be hearings expected on both the House and the Senate side of the Capitol, but as far as what exactly Congress will do in terms of a resolution on Iraq, supporting the president, for example. It's unclear at this point. We just know that it's out there.

Homeland security, you mentioned, they've got to create this new department for President Bush that he's asked for; 170,000 employees would be in that new department. The Senate has started, or will start on that this morning, debating that Homeland Security Department. Democrats in the Senate concerned about the president wanting flexibility, to be able to hire and fire, and move around those employees, but Tom Ridge from -- the Homeland Security director, spoke on our program this morning about why the had the does not like Senate's version.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TOM RIDGE, DIR., HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: The Senate version just wants to piecemeal and bolt pieces of this organization together, and you really need to integrate, you really need to consolidate, you need to reorganize. The president needs the flexibility to move people and resources around, and I am hopeful once the debate has concluded, we get amendments through the process, we can get a bill to the president that he can sign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Aside from homeland security, they also face a lot of issues revolving round 9/11, September 11th. They have terror hearings coming up about the intelligence failures. We're expecting public hearings in a couple of weeks, and this Friday, Paula, the whole Congress has been invited to go up to New York for a special commemorative session in honor of the people of New York. That will take place on Friday. The first time they've been there, Paula, to federal hall, since 1790.

Back to you.

ZAHN: Wow. And we will be prepared here in New York City for their arrival. Thanks, Kate. Appreciate the preview.

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