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CNN Saturday Morning News
Bush Delivers Radio Address
Aired October 27, 2001 - 10:05 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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is at Camp David, Maryland for the weekend and his weekly radio address is about to broadcast nationwide. It deals with, this week, the airline security bill pending in Congress and the anti-terrorism bill the president signed into law yesterday.
CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is near Camp David. She joins us live.
Good morning, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Marty. Well just moments from now, we will hear the president. As you noted, he will tout that anti-terrorism bill and then he will really put the pressure on Congress to finish work on a bill to improve security at the nation's airports. Let's listen now to the president.
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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... steps in the war against terrorism. Next week, the House of Representatives will be voting on an airline security bill that Congressman Don Young has introduced. It is modeled after proposals I made last month. Under the Young Bill, the federal government will assume complete control of airport security and screening. It also greatly expands the federal air marshal program and provides substantial new funding for secure cockpits and other security measures about airplanes.
There's a critical difference between the Young Bill and the bill the Senate passed a few weeks ago. My approach gives the government the flexibility it needs to assemble the skilled and disciplined screening workforce. The Senate bill mandates that all passenger and baggage screeners be federal workers in all circumstances. While that bill is well intended, the best approach will be one that provides flexibility.
The Young Bill allows the use of private contractors operating under tough, federal standards on background checks with federal law enforcement at every gate to promote better screening services and ensure that security managers can move aggressively to discipline and fire employees to fail to live up to the rigorous new standards.
The Young Bill is the quickest, most effective way to increase aviation security and time is of the essence. I urge Congress to move quickly on this vital legislation as it did this week in passing new legislation to fight terrorism.
The bill I signed yesterday gives intelligence and law enforcement officials additional tools they need to hunt and capture and punish terrorists. Our enemies operate by highly sophisticated methods and technologies, using the latest means of communication and the new weapon of bioterrorism. When earlier laws were written, some of these methods did not even exist. The new law recognizes the realities and dangers posed by the modern terrorist. It will help us to prosecute terrorist organizations and also to detect them before they strike.
Since the 11th of September, the men and women of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been relentless in their work. In return for their exceptional service, these public servants deserve our full support and every means of help that we can provide. Intelligence operations and criminal investigations have often had to operate on separate tracks. The new law will make it easier for all agencies to share vital information about terrorist activity.
Surveillance of communications is another essential method of law enforcement. But for a long time, we have been working under laws written in the era of rotary telephones. Under the new law, officials may conduct court ordered surveillance of all modern forms of communication used by terrorists.
In recent years, some investigations have been hindered by limits on the reach of federal search warrants. Officials had to get a new warrant for each new district an investigation covered even when involving the same suspect. As of now, warrants are valid across districts and across state lines.
And finally, the new legislation greatly enhances the penalties that will fall on terrorists or anyone who helps them. Federal law now provides harsh penalties for possession of biological weapons. It is now easier to seize the assets of groups or individuals involved in terrorism. The government has greater ability to deport known terrorists and their supporters. And the Statute of Limitations on terrorist acts have been lengthened along with prison sentences for terrorist crimes.
These measures were enacted with broad support in both parties. They reflect a firm resolve to uphold and respect the civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution while dealing swiftly and severely with terrorists. Now comes the duty of carrying them out. And I can assure all Americans that these important, new statutes will be enforced to the full.
Thank you for listening.
WALLACE: Again, the president's weekly radio address every Saturday since the September 11 terrorist attacks, talking about this campaign against terrorism. The president noting the overwhelming bipartisan support for that anti-terrorism bill that he signed into law on Friday, but Marty, a much more uphill battle when it comes to that bill to improve security at the nation's airports.
As the president noted, the Senate bill, which has already passed would make all baggage screeners federal employees. You heard the president say he disagrees with that. He wants the federal government to set standards and do background checks for baggage screeners and make the decision about whether those employees should be federal workers or private workers. So an uphill battle head.
The House expected to act on that this week. And Marty, we can tell you the president, as he does every Saturday now, sharing another video teleconference with his National Security Council. Condoleezza Rice, his National Security Council Adviser, and Andy Card, his White House chief of staff up with him, at the presidential retreat at Camp David. And on a much, much lighter note, I'm told, Marty, he will be watching the World Series tonight. When asked which team he'd be rooting for, I was told the Texas Rangers. Back to you.
SAVIDGE: Kelly Wallace, live near Camp David. Thanks very much for that update.
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