U.S. Response:  Senate Passes Anti-Terrorism Package

The U.S. Senate Saturday passed a $318 billion defense bill that includes a $20 billion package for homeland defense.  The vote followed intense debate over a Democratic proposal to add $15 billion to the Bush administration’s request (see GSN, Dec. 6) for a homeland defense package in response to the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

Bush had threatened to veto any spending over $20 billion, and Republican senators Friday gained 50 votes in a procedure to derail the defense bill—nine more votes than necessary (see GSN, Dec. 7).  Democrats eventually agreed to a plan within Bush’s limits that shifted $6 billion from programs the president wanted to programs to enhance homeland security and aid recovery in New York and Washington.  The package also included $8.5 billion to combat bioterrorism and enhance other homeland defense programs, which was $4.1 billion more than Bush requested.

Congress already had approved $40 billion in defense funds three days after the Sept. 11 attacks, and Bush said he would consider approving more funds early next year.

“We have ensured the funding necessary to recover from the Sept. 11 attacks and to protect and defend our homeland,” Bush said after the Senate passed the bill.

Some Democrats remained critical of the funding levels, however.  “We do not seem to be able to pull together in this town for America even in this time when the people of the United States are united,” said Senator Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) (Alan Fram, Associated Press/Yahoo.com, Dec. 9).

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