One month after sheer terror struck America on September 11, the U.S. Senate continued to show unity and resolve. As the American population struggles to return to normalcy and every day life with new terrorist threats looming large, the Senate passed legislation to pump up airport security and prompt still jittery travelers to feel more secure about boarding a plane.
As the president has said in the last month, our mission is clear. The United States will not rest until justice is served and terrorism is eradicated from the face of the earth. We’ re in this for the long haul. Unlike any war in our history, our mission includes coordination and reliance upon military, intelligence, diplomatic, humanitarian and financial forces working parallel to each other. The administration already reports at least $24 million in terrorist-related funds have been frozen worldwide. The U.S. military joined by allied forces on Oct. 7 launched attacks on strategic areas in Afghanistan. Food, medicine and other humanitarian air drops are being conducted to help innocent Afghani civilians. Plus, long-term plans are underway to help reconstruct Afghanistan and its government once military action ends.
More closer to home, the Senate has taken action to improve aviation security by unanimously approving a bill that would require new security steps to be taken at U.S. airports in addition to pre-emptive safety measures by the airlines and their crew members. In addition to some very visible beefed up security initiatives already underway in the nation’s airports, the Senate legislation seeks to ensure that a hijacker can never again board and take over another U.S. airplane.
Specifically, the legislation aims to boost confidence in the traveling public by pumping up security screenings at U.S. airports. The Senate bill calls for making airport baggage checkers and passenger screening personnel federally trained and supervised employees under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Justice Department. Other requirements include mandatory: X-raying of all baggage, including checked luggage, before it gets on the plane; criminal background checks for airport workers with access to restricted areas; and oversight by armed law enforcement officers of screening areas and the tarmac. The legislation also stipulates that airplanes be fitted with reinforced cockpit doors, armed federal sky marshals accompany more flights, and the Federal Aviation Administration may allow pilots with the proper training to carry guns.
With the Senate taking such swift action to restore consumer confidence in air travel, I hope the House of Representatives will follow suit and make short work of these much-needed improvements to U.S. aviation security. Even before this legislation has time to become law, I encourage Iowans to feel comfortable boarding a plane for business or pleasure. Each weekend since September 11, I have flown home on a commercial airline like I’ve been doing for the last 25 years.
In other action on the one-month anniversary of the assaults on America, the Senate approved anti-terrorism legislation that expands federal law enforcement authority to go after suspected terrorists and bring them to justice. The bill includes my legislation to tighten anti-money laundering laws to dry up the cash flow used by terrorist networks to prepare, plot and perpetrate their evil-doing. Finally, the Senate also passed a resolution declaring September 11 a national day of remembrance. This authorizes the president to issue an annual proclamation calling upon Americans to observe a moment of silence and fly flags at half-staff every September 11.
Regrettably, September 11, 2001 changed our way of life. America will never be the same in my lifetime. On the same day that America lost some of its innocence regarding personal safety and national security, more than 5,000 innocent lives were lost due to the evil works of terrorism. Remembering the unimaginable tragedy every year as a nation will help bring Americans from all walks of life back together to share in our collective grief, patriotism and purpose. I haven’t seen such solidarity among the American public and its elected officials since World War II.
The terrorists may have exposed America’s vulnerability to their evil acts of terror, but this Achilles heel so far also has served to strengthen the American spirit and resolve to do whatever it takes to ensure freedom prevails over fear.