Jerry Nadler: “this bill is not the 9/11 Commission recommendations. This bill is John Ashcroft's wish list. Ground Zero is in my…”

“this bill is not the 9/11 Commission recommendations. This bill is John Ashcroft's wish list. Ground Zero is in my district, and I understand the grave danger and harsh reality of terrorism. It is absolutely imperative that we implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, and strengthen our security and win the war on terrorism. Unfortunately, House Republicans would rather play partisan political games on the eve of the election. The 9/11 Commission recommended that homeland security grants be distributed based on risk, but this bill contains a political pork barrel funding formula that directs funds away from key targets like New York and Washington, D.C. The 9/11 Commission recommended that we strengthen counterproliferation efforts to prevent al Qaeda from getting nuclear weapons. This bill ignores that recommendation and does little to prevent the terrorists from exploding atomic bombs in our cities. This bill even fails to establish a strong, independent National Intelligence, by not providing that office with sufficient authority over the budget and personnel of other intelligence agencies. House Republicans are once again wrapping themselves in the flag and in 9/11 to hide the fact that they are loading up this bill with questionable provisions that will not make us safer but will undermine our civil liberties. For example, this bill would permit people to be deported to countries that engage in torture.”