AP News, March 13th, 2007
A comparison of provisions in the homeland security bills passed by the House and Senate and the Bush's administration position on them:
HOUSE BILL
_Grants collective bargaining rights and whistleblower protection to airport screeners.
_Requires 100 percent screening of all U.S.-bound cargo in foreign ports for radiation within 5 years.
_Requires 100 percent inspection of all cargo loaded onto U.S. passenger aircraft for explosives.
_Funds three grant programs, each with guaranteed minimums for each state of 0.25 percent of total. Border states would be guaranteed 0.45 percent. No total amount designated in bill.
_Additional grant program created to improve emergency communications systems, no total amount specified.
_Gives more independence to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Board, requiring Senate confirmation of its members and granting it subpoena powers.
SENATE BILL
_Grants bargaining rights to screeners on non-pay issues and whistleblower protection; gives the Homeland Security Department broad authority to reassign screeners.
_No provision for cargo screening in foreign ports.
_Requires cargo loaded onto passenger aircraft to be subjected to screening comparable to that of checked bags.
_Creates similar grant programs as the House, but guarantees each state a minimum of 0.45 percent share of the total $3.1 billion in each of the next three years
_Creates an emergency communications grant program, authorizing $3.3 billion over the next five years.
_Gives more independence, but less than the House bill, to Privacy and Civil Liberties Board; would allow the board to ask the attorney general to issue subpoenas.
ADMINISTRATION POSITION
_Opposes collective bargaining rights for airport screeners; advisers would recommend President Bush veto a bill that includes it.
_Opposes 100 percent screening of U.S.-bound cargo in foreign ports, claiming it is too costly and could slow international trade.
_Opposes full inspection of all cargo loaded onto passenger aircraft; wants more flexibility for screeners.
_Prefers House formula that distributes grants on the basis of risk of and vulnerability to terrorism attack.
_Does not believe new program is needed for emergency communication systems.
_Oposes any more autonomy for Privacy and Civil Liberties Board as an encroachment on executive power.
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The House bill is H.R. 1; the Senate bill is S.4
On the Net:
Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov
