Reply #48: Congress churns out bills before recess/Anti-terrorism measure stalls [View All]

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http://www.cnn.com/US/9608/02/congress.votes/

Congress churns out bills before recess

Anti-terrorism measure stalls

Anti-terrorism

The main measure that ran aground Friday was anti-terrorism legislation sought by Clinton, especially in the wake of the TWA Flight 800 explosion and the Olympic park bombing.

The House passed the bill 389-22, but the Senate said it needs more time. The bill requires new airport security measures, but excludes Clinton's proposals to expand the government's wiretapping authority.

Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Kentucky, said the anti-terrorism legislation provides the necessary resources to combat terrorism. (303K AIFF or WAV sound) But Rep. Melvin Watt, D-North Carolina, called it a "charade." (148K AIFF or WAV sound)

House Republicans added a last-minute concession: a provision for a study of whether chemical markers should be placed in black and smokeless powders, which are commonly used in making bombs. Clinton had pushed for a study of the markers, called taggants, but ran into stiff opposition this week from some Republicans.