The comprehensive proposal includes two legislative initiatives (S.1371 and S.398) co-authored by Grassley to clamp down on tactics used by international criminals to funnel money through the U.S. banking system. Grassley's bipartisan proposals would help shut off the spigot that lets tainted money flow through the U.S. banking system and finance terrorist activity in the United States.
The overall bill, which was approved this afternoon by a vote of 98 to 1, would significantly strengthen the ability of law enforcement to investigate, prosecute, prevent and punish terrorist crimes. The anti-terrorism bill facilitates the sharing of information and resources between our law enforcement and intelligence communities in the battle against terrorism. The bill enhances law enforcement's intelligence gathering tools and updates the laws to take into account advances in technology. These provisions make fighting terrorism a national priority in the U.S. criminal justice system.
In addition, the anti-terrorism bill enhances immigration policies to help better secure our borders. It includes legislation originally sponsored by Grassley that would allow the State Department and the Immigration Service access to certain FBI files in order to determine whether an applicant for a visa or admission into the country has a criminal history record. The bill also authorizes funding for the foreign student visa monitoring program. Grassley wrote to Attorney General John Ashcroft in support of immediate implementation of this program, which was authorized in 1996.
Grassley is a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Here is his comment:
"International terrorists have developed sophisticated ways to funnel money through the U.S. banking system to support their efforts right here in the United States. By putting more teeth into U.S. statutory and regulatory authority, we can starve the sources of funding that feed terrorist organizations and allow them to operate virtually anywhere in the world. Our important effort to toughen anti-money laundering laws that started earlier this year became even more serious after September 11. These initiatives are top priorities for national security.
"America has awakened to a new and chilling reality: we are the target of terrorists. President Bush has declared war on terror. Congress needed to make changes to laws for federal law enforcement to reflect new technology, to improve information sharing among law enforcement, intelligence and national security agencies, and to expand federal powers for this multi-front war. We also needed to provide more tools to the Immigration Service to strengthen our borders and secure the safety of American citizens. This bill is a vital component of our war on terrorism."