From the December 2001 Idaho Observer:

9-11 prompts orgy of federal “legislation”

Government's new role is to keep people safe, says president

The events of Sept. 11, 2001 have prompted the most prolific orgy of “legislation” since FDR gave us the “New Deal” in the 30s. “Legislation” is in quotes because the term infers that a legislature is involved. For instance, the Homeland Defense Agency was introduced into Congress last Oct. 4. Former Pennyslvania Governor Tom Ridge was in his new Homeland Defense office in the White House by Oct. 8 though the “proposed” bill was still being debated in Congress as of Oct. 15. It appears that, just like during the New Deal era, Congress' station has been diminished to being a mere affectation of tradition. The executive branch has assumed the reigns of lawmaking power in post 9-11 America. A quick study of the some 140 pieces of “legislative” activity specific to Sept. 11 is very interesting. See the key at right. Beside each bill description in parenthesis is a letter that corresponds with a catagory defined in the key. Count the letters that correspond to a catagory and tally them in the space provided in the key. Consider the benefits-to-memorials-to-laws ratio that your tally reveals. This information is easy to review in more detail by visiting the site at: http://thomas.loc.gov

(B)HR2882: Public Safety Officer Benefits bill

(A)HR2888: 2001 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States

(L) HR2926: Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act

(L) HR3162: Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001

(L) S1424: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide permanent authority for the admission of “S” visa non-immigrants.

(F) S1465: A bill to authorize the President to exercise waivers of foreign assistance restrictions with respect to Pakistan through September 30, 2003, and for other purposes.

(BS) S.J.Res. 22: A joint resolution expressing the sense of the Senate and House of Representatives regarding the terrorist attacks launched against the United States on September 11, 2001.

(W) S.J.Res. 23: Authorization for Use of Military Force

OTHER RESOLUTIONS

APPROVED

(M) H.Con.Res. 223: Permitting the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a prayer vigil in memory of those who lost their lives in the events of September 11, 2001.

(P) H.Con.Res. 225: Expressing the sense of the Congress that, as a symbol of solidarity following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, every United States citizen is encouraged to display the flag of the United States.

(R) H.Con.Res. 227: Condemning bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, American Muslims, and Americans from South Asia in the wake of terrorist attacks in New York City, New York, and Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001.

(BS) H.Con.Res. 231: Providing for a joint session of Congress to receive a message from the President.

(BS) H.Res. 238: Condemning any price gouging with respect to motor fuels during the hours and days after the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001.

(M) H.Res. 239: Terrorist Victims Flag Memorial Resolution of 2001

(M) S.Con.Res. 76: A concurrent resolution honoring the law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency rescue personnel, and health care professionals who have worked tirelessly to search for and rescue the victims of the horrific attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

(M) S.Res. 170: A resolution honoring the United States Capitol Police for their commitment to security at the United States Capitol, particularly on and since September 11, 2001.

(R) S.Res. 173: A resolution condemning violence and discrimination against Iranian-Americans in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

LEGISLATION WITH FLOOR ACTION

(L) HR2883: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002

(B) HR2884: Victims of Terrorism Relief Act of 2001

(W) HR2899: War Bonds Act of 2001

(L) HR2975: Provide Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (PATRIOT) Act of 2001

(L) HR3004: Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001

(C) HR3086: To provide the Secretary of Education with specific waiver authority to respond to conditions in the national emergency declared by the President of the United States on September 14, 2001.

(L) HR3150: Secure Transportation for America Act of 2001

(L) HR3160: To amend the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 with respect to the responsibilities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding biological agents and toxins, and to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to such agents and toxins.

(BS) H.Con.Res. 233: Expressing the profound sorrow of the Congress for the death and injuries suffered by first responders as they endeavored to save innocent people in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

(M) H.Con.Res. 243: Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor should be presented to the public safety officers who have perished and select other public safety officers who deserve special recognition for outstanding valor above and beyond the call of duty in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001.

(BS) H.J.Res. 61: Expressing the sense of the Senate and House of Representatives regarding the terrorist attacks launched against the United States on September 11, 2001.

(W) H.J.Res. 64: Authorization for Use of Military Force

(P) H.J.Res. 71: Designating September 11 as Patriot Day

(L) S1426: 2001 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States

(L) S1447: Aviation Security Act

(L) S1450: Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act

(L) S1510: Uniting and Strengthening America Act (USA Act of 2001)

(R) S.Con.Res. 74: A concurrent resolution condemning bigotry and violence against Sikh-Americans in the wake of terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001.

(M) S.J.Res. 25: A joint resolution designating September 11 as “National Day of Remembrance”.

(C) H.AMDT. 361 to HR2883: Amendment revises Sec. 306 and establishes a “Commission on National Security Readiness” to identify structural readiness of the United States to identify structural impediments to the effective collection, analysis, and sharing of information on national security threats, particularly terrorism.

(C) H.AMDT. 362 to HR2883: Amendment sought to reduce the Presidential appointments to 2; to remove the Commission's ability to hold hearings and to administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it; to remove subpoena power; and to strike the requirement for termination of the Commission.

(A) H.AMDT. 383 TO HR3150: Amendment that makes various technical changes, authorizes airlines to use technologies to create a secure and expedited passenger screening process, and extends $1.5 billion authorized for airport security to 2003.

(R, BS) S.AMDT. 1560 to HR2500: To express the sense of the Senate regarding discrimination against Arab Americans.

(L) S.AMDT. 1562 to HR2500: Combating Terrorism Act of 2001

(W) S.AMDT.1573 to HR2590: To authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to issue War Bonds in support of recovery and response efforts relating to the September 11, 2001, hijackings and attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.

(W) S.AMDT.1574 to HR2590: To authorize the issuance of Unity Bonds in response to the acts of terrorism perpetrated against the United States on September 11, 2001.

(M) S.AMDT.1583 to HR2590: To provide that the Postal Service may issue a special commemorative postage stamp in order to provide financial assistance to the families of emergency relief personnel killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty in connection with the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.

(A) S.AMDT.1661 to S1438: To authorize emergency supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2001 for recovery from and response to terrorist attacks on the United States.

(D) S.AMDT.1807 to S1438: To authorize the acceptance of contributions for the repair of the damage to the Pentagon Reservation caused by the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 or establishment of a memorial of the attack at the Pentagon.

(W) S.AMDT.1815 to S1438: To express the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of the Treasury should immediately issue savings bonds, to be designated as “Unity Bonds”, in response to the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.

(B) S.AMDT.2067 to HR3061: To express the sense of the Senate concerning the provision of assistance for airport career centers to enable such centers to serve workers in the airline and related industries who have been dislocated as a result of the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center.

(B) S.AMDT.2068 to HR3061: To express the sense of the Senate concerning assistance for individuals with disabilities who require vocational rehabilitation services as a result of the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center.

(B) S.AMDT.2082 to HR3061: To make funding available under title V of the Public Health Service Act for mental health providers serving public safety workers affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

LEGISLATION WITHOUT FLOOR ACTION

(L) HR525: Preparedness Against Domestic Terrorism Act of 2001

(M) HR2886: To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the award of the Purple Heart to civilian employees of the Department of Defense who are killed or wounded by a terrorist attack.

(L) HR2891: To preserve the continued viability of the United States air transportation system.

(B) HR2894: To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to increase the maximum amount of an award paid under the Department of State rewards program in connection with the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.

(L) HR2895: Aviation Security Enhancement Act of 2001

(B) HR2897: To provide for the granting of posthumous citizenship to certain aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence who died as a result of the hijackings of 4 commercial aircraft, the attacks on the World Trade Center, or the attack on the Pentagon, on September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.

(L) HR2898: Federal Airports Security Enhancement Act

(W) HR2900: Victory Bonds Act of 2001

HR2905: September 11th Heroes Stamp Act of 2001

(M) HR2907: September 11th Families Stamp Act

(L) HR2913: Aviation Security Improvement Act of 2001

(M) HR2916: Honoring the Passengers and Crew of United Flight 93 Act

(M) HR2917: To authorize the President to award gold medals on behalf of Congress to the people aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who helped resist the hijackers and caused the plane to crash prematurely.

(M) HR2921: To authorize the President to award posthumously the Congressional Gold Medal to Jeremy Glick of West Milford, New Jersey, a passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93 for acts of bravery, courage, and patriotism.

(L) HR2927: To limit the amount of total compensation for top executives of air carriers that receive certain Federal relief.

(L) HR2928: Keeping America Safe Act of 2001

(B) HR2938: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate any portion of their income tax overpayments, and to make other contributions, for the benefit of victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and for counter-terrorism efforts.

(B) HR2945: Ancillary Airline Industry Relief Act of 2001

(B) HR2946: Displaced Workers Relief Act of 2001

(B) HR2955: Displaced Workers Assistance Act

(D) HR2956: Show Your Pride in the Military Act of 2001

(B) HR2957: Secure Aviation Employment and Training Enhancement Act of 2001

(B) HR2961: Terrorist Disaster Relief for Small Businesses Act

(B) HR2976: To provide for the issuance of a special entrance pass for free admission to any federally owned area which is operated and maintained by a Federal agency and used for outdoor recreation purposes to the survivors, victims' immediate families, and police, fire, rescue, recovery, and medical personnel directly affected by the September 11, 2001, terrorist hijackings and the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and for other purposes. [See entire bill page 14].

(M) HR2982: To authorize the establishment of a memorial within the area in the District of Columbia referred to in the Commemorative Works Act as “Area I” or “Area II” to the victims of terrorist attacks on the United States, to provide for the design and construction of such a memorial, and for other purposes.

(B) HR2989: Airline Workers Fairness Act

(M) HR2991: To direct the Architect of the Capitol to establish, as part of the Capitol Visitors Center, a garden designated as the “Spirit of America Garden” as a living memorial to the victims of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

(B) HR3007: General Aviation Small Business Relief Act of 2001.

(B) HR3011: To authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to make loans to certain concerns that suffered economic and other injury as result of the terrorist attacks against the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.

(L) HR3026: Office of Homeland Security Act of 2001

(M) HR3036: To authorize the Secretary of Defense to establish a memorial on the Arlington Naval Annex to the victims of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon.

(B) HR3045: To provide assistance to employees who suffer loss of employment in the aircraft manufacturing industry as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

(P) HR3049: Afghanistan Freedom Act of 2001

(M) HR3054: True American Heroes Act

(B) HR3067: To direct the Secretary of Transportation give certain workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, priority in hiring for aviation-related security positions.

(B) HR3073: American Small Business Emergency Relief and Recovery Act of 2001

(W) HR3076: September 11 Marque and Reprisal Act of 2001

(C) HR3157: Rediscover America Act of 2001

(L) HR3220: To improve aviation security, and for other purposes.

(C) HR3226: To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study regarding children directly affected by the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.

(L) HR3242: To ensure that the United States is prepared for an attack using biological or chemical weapons.

(P) H.Con.Res. 224: Expressing the sense of the Congress that, as a symbol of solidarity following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, every United States citizen is encouraged to display the flag of the United States.

(B) H.Con.Res. 228: Expressing the sense of the Congress that the children who lost one or both parents or a guardian in the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center and Pentagon tragedies (including the aircraft crash in Somerset County, Pennsylvania) should be provided with all necessary assistance, services, and benefits and urging the heads of Federal agencies responsible for providing such assistance, services and benefits to give the highest possible priority to providing such assistance, services and benefits to those children.

(M) H.Con.Res. 230: Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establishment of a National Day of Remembrance.

(M) H.Con.Res. 232: Expressing the sense of the Congress in honoring the crew and passengers of United Airlines Flight 93.

(BS) H.Con.Res. 234: Expressing the sense of Congress relating to the increased importance of the United States steel industry since the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

(M) H.Con.Res. 235: Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establishment of a National Day of Remembrance.

(D) H.Con.Res. 236: Expressing the sense of the Congress in support of the “National Wash America Campaign”.

(M) H.Con.Res. 241: Expressing the sense of the Congress that trained service dogs should be recognized for their service in the rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

(D, BS) H.Con.Res. 259: Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the relief efforts undertaken by charitable organizations and the people of the United States in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks against the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001.

(W) H.J.Res. 62: Declaring a state of war between the United States and international terrorists and their sponsors.

(W) H.J.Res. 63: Declaring that a state of war exists between the United States and any entity determined by the President to have planned, carried out, or otherwise supported the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, and authorizing the President to use United States Armed Forces and all other necessary resources of the United States Government against any such entity in order to bring the conflict to a successful termination.

(W) H.Res. 236: Waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules.

(W) H.Res. 237: Waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules.

(B) H.Res. 241: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration should consider hiring an employee whose employment with an air carrier was terminated as a result of the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, for a position with the Federal Air Marshal program of the Administration.

(M) H.Res. 243: Honoring Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, the rescue workers, and the residents of New York, New York, for their valiant efforts in responding to the terrorist attack.

(R) H.Res. 255: Condemning bigotry and violence against Sikh Americans in the wake of terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.

(W, M) H.Res. 260: Waiving clause 5(a) of rule XII of the rules of the House of Representatives to permit introduction and consideration of a bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to designate September 11 as United We Stand Remembrance Day.

(B) S1422: Public Safety Officer Benefits bill

(B) S1423: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief for military or civilian employees of the United Stats who are victims of terrorist attacks against the United States.

(L) S1429: Airport and Seaport Terrorism Prevention Act

(W) S1430: Unity Bonds Act of 2001

(W) S1431:War Bonds Act of 2001

S1432: United States Defense of Freedom Bond Act of 2001

(B) S1433: Victims of Terrorism Relief Act of 2001

(M) S1434: Honoring the Passengers and Crew of United Flight 93 Act

(B) S1440: Victims of Terrorism Relief Act of 2001

(L) S1444: Federal Air Marshals and Safe Sky Act of 2001

(L) S1448: Intelligence to Prevent Terrorism Act of 2001

(C) S1449: A bill to establish the National Office for Combatting Terrorism.

(B) S1454: Displaced Workers Assistance Act.

(L) S1461: Airline Passenger Safety Enhancement Act of 2001

(L) S1462: National Emergency Transportation Coordination Act of 2001

(L) S1473: A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for the enhancement of security at airports in the United States.

(L) S1479: Airline Workers Fairness Act.

(L) S1486: Biological and Chemical Weapons Preparedness Act of 2001

(B, L) S1493: Small Business Leads to Economic Recovery Act of 2001

(B) S1499: A bill to provide assistance to small business concerns adversely impacted by the terrorist attacks perpetrated against the United States on September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.

(C) S1500: Travel America Now Act of 2001

(C) S1505: Rediscover America Act of 2001

(L) S1508: A bill to increase the preparedness of the United States to respond to a biological or chemical weapons attack.

(C) S1512: A bill to report on any air space restrictions put in place as a result of September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that remain in place.

(L) S1518: Visa Integrity and Security Act of 2001

(B) S1519: A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to provide farm credit assistance for activated reservists.

(L) S1550: Rail Security Act of 2001

(B) S1570: Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2001

(B) S1622: A bill to extend the period of availability of unemployment assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in the case of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

(B) S1624: World Trade Center Attack Claims Act

(L) S1627: Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001

(B) S1637: A bill to waive certain limitations in the case of use of the emergency fund authorized by section 125 of title 23, United States Code, to pay the costs of projects in response to the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City that occurred on September 11, 2001.

(B) S1653: A bill to provide loan forgiveness to the surviving spouses of the victims of the September 11, 2001, tragedies.

(L) S.Res. 165: A resolution establishing a Select Committee on Homeland Security and Terrorism.

(A, BS) S.Res. 171: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate concerning the provision of funding for bioterrorism preparedness and response.

(M) S.Con.Res. 66: A concurrent resolution to express the sense of the Congress that the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor should be awarded to public safety officers killed in the line of duty in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

(D) S.Con.Res. 70: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress in support of the “National Wash America Campaign”.

(M, BS) S.Con.Res. 73: A concurrent resolution expressing the profound sorrow of Congress for the deaths and injuries suffered by first responders as they endeavored to save innocent people in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

(M) S.Con.Res. 75: A concurrent resolution to express the sense of the Congress that the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor should be presented to public safety officers killed or seriously injured as a result of the terrorist attacks perpetrated against the United States on September 11, 2001, and to those who participated in the search, rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of those attacks.

Last Update: November 9, 2001

Key

-- -- -- -- A -- Appropriations

-- -- -- -- B -- Benefits

-- -- -- -- BS -- Congressional opinion

-- -- -- -- C -- Commission

-- -- -- -- D -- Donations

-- -- -- -- F -- Foreign Aid

-- -- -- -- L -- Legislation

-- -- -- -- M -- Memorial

-- -- -- -- P -- “Patriots”

-- -- -- -- PR -- Propaganda

-- -- -- -- R -- Racism

-- -- -- -- W -- War