September 7, 2006
SENATE DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCE MAJOR SECURITY LEGISLATION
Real Security Act of 2006 makes defense of nation reflect
lessons of 9/11
Washington, DC — Five years after September 11, 2001, with America left less safe that it can and should be by Republican leadership that has failed to learn the lessons of the terrorist attacks, Senate Democrats today announced major new legislation that will take America’s security in a new direction. Announced by the Senate Democratic Leadership, along with New York Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton as well as Senators Leahy, Levin, Rockefeller, Reed, and Menendez, the Real Security Act of 2006 is an aggressive plan to take action on the real lessons of 9/11.
The Real Security Act of 2006 marks a major change from status quo Bush Republican policies that have left America less safe than it must be. Unveiled against the backdrop of a new White House media offensive, the legislation spells out the tough AND smart path to make America more secure and to deal more effectively with threats that confront America at home and abroad. From the Levin-Reed proposal to change course in Iraq, to the NSA domestic surveillance program, to bringing terrorists to justice in a manner consistent with the recent Supreme Court Hamdan decision, the Real Security Act of 2006 replaces the years of Bush Republican tough but empty rhetoric with a major investment in the tools our nation needs to give the American people the Real Security they deserve. A complete description of the Real Security Act of 2006 follows below and may also be accessed online at democrats.senate.gov.
“Republicans have ignored the lessons of 9/11 and failed to make America as safe as we can and should be,” said Senator Reid today. “They want to ‘stay the course’ in the face of failure. We won’t. We’ll change course in Iraq. Make America safer at home. And refocus our military on the War on Terror and destroying al Qaeda. Democrats refuse to settle for the insecurity Republicans have created. They haven’t led. We will. Americans deserve Real Security. And with Democrats, that’s what they’ll get.”
With the Real Security Act of 2006, Democrats will:
Change the Course in Iraq. Democrats know that three years into a failed stay the course policy that has led American troops to be bogged down in Iraq, it is time for a change of course. Democrats are offering the Reed-Levin resolution that will move in a new direction by beginning the redeployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq this year to face the terrorist threats around the world. Democrats will also finally provide the oversight that Republicans have failed to do to track the billions of dollars that have been wasted in Iraq in no-bid contracts, fraud and abuse.
Provide Better Tools to Bring Terrorists to Justice. Democrats want to do everything we can to defeat the terrorists by improving our monitoring of terrorists and finally bringing those in custody to justice. Democrats believe we can best do that by following the law and the Constitution and will work to revise the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act as needed to ensure our intelligence agencies have the tools they need to defeat the terrorists. Five years after September 11th, not a single terrorist or detainee in Guantánamo Bay has been brought to justice because of the Bush administration’s failure to listen to the military and conduct trials in the right way. Democrats call for following the advice of our uniformed military leaders and creating a set of tough and smart rules that will lock up terrorists and respect our Constitution.
Implement the 9/11 Commission Recommendations. Five years after the September 11th attacks, Washington Republicans have still failed to implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations. Democrats will implement those recommendations by providing adequate resources for first responders, distributing homeland security funding based on risk, improving intelligence oversight, strengthening Congressional oversight of homeland security, strengthening public diplomacy and improving our tracking of nuclear weapon material.
Refocus on the War on Terror. Learning the lesson of 9/11 means refocusing on the threat posed by radical Islamic fundamentalism. Democrats will work to increase our Special Operations forces to kill and capture the terrorists where they are and to better protect Americans here at home. Democrats will also improve efforts to effectively fight terrorism by working with our allies, reigning in the spread of nuclear material and improving our communication with the Islamic world.
Protect Our Transportation Systems. Democrats will work to protect Americans from terrorism here at home by improving our transportation security including our rails, ports, mass transit and aviation. Democrats will protect our ports by improving and increasing screenings, better assisting foreign ports, increasing security of containers and radiation screenings. Democrats will increase rail security by providing new technology upgrades, creating new grant programs and improving the tracking of hazardous materials.
Equip Our Intelligence Community to Fight Against Terrorists. For the first time in 28 years, the Republican Congress failed last year to pass an Intelligence Authorization act. Democrats know that it takes the most effective intelligence gathering and strong Congressional oversight to protect Americans from terrorism. Democrats will do the Congress’s job by passing this crucial piece of legislation. It’s time to give our intelligence community the tools they need to fight terror effectively.
Five years after September 11th, 2001 the American people deserve a government that has learned the lessons of the terrorist attacks, and that will implement the tough and smart policies needed to finally secure this country. Bush Republicans have talked tough but failed to protect this country. It is time for a new direction. It is time for the Real Security Act of 2006.
Details of Act:
http://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=262588&Bush: We "Learned" About Terrorism
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