HOUSE, SENATE PASS DEFENSE FUNDING BILL, ANTI-TERRORISM FUNDS

Wrapping up the 2001 congressional session December 20, the Senate and House of Representatives approved a $318,000 million bill to fund U.S. military operations in the fiscal year that began October 1 and a compromise $20 billion anti-terrorism package that was attached to it.

Passage in both chambers was overwhelming, with a 408-6 vote in the House followed by 94-2 approval in the Senate. The measure now goes to President Bush for his signature into law.

The bill gives the administration about $7,800 million for the national missile defense program advanced by the president -- almost $500 million less than he had requested.

It also provides for a pay raise of at least 5 percent for all military personnel, the biggest in about 20 years, with even greater increases going to those in certain pay grades and positions.

Overall, the measure sharply increases the level of military spending, providing $27,000 million more than the previous year's total. But it remains $1,900 million below the president's budget request.

Military funds already provided in other legislation bring the Pentagon total to $345,000 million this year.

Another provision in the newly passed bill, championed by Senator Jesse Helms (Republican, North Carolina), bars U.S. cooperation with a proposed International Criminal Court to be based in the Netherlands.

The anti-terrorism package appended to the bill includes another $3,500 million for the Pentagon, along with $8,300 million for efforts to prevent bioterrorism attacks and boost aviation security, and for other "homeland defense" programs. And it provides $8,200 million in help to New York and other areas affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks.

KEY SENATORS PROPOSE COMMISSION TO REVIEW RESPONSE TO TERROR

Senators Joseph Lieberman and John McCain have called for creation of a special bipartisan commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the nation's response to them.

Lieberman, the Democratic candidate for vice president in 2000, and McCain, who ran against President Bush for the Republican presidential nomination, introduced a bill December 20 that would set up a 14-member National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.

Congress will not consider the legislation until after returning in late January for its 2002 session.

Under the plan advanced by Lieberman and McCain, four commissioners including the chairman would be chosen by the president, while 10 would be named by congressional committee leaders. The commission would be given the power to subpoena witnesses. It would be charged with issuing a preliminary report six months after its first meeting, and a final report within a year after the first.

Lieberman said at a joint press conference December 20 that the investigation "must be a hunt for the truth, not a witch hunt."

"The initial weeks and months after September 11 were -- understandably and appropriately -- preoccupied with mourning and healing, and then with the war on terrorism," Lieberman said. "But since the first stage of the war is now drawing to a close with the defeat of the Taliban -- and with many perplexing questions left unanswered -- this is the right time to begin in earnest the process of finding answers to our questions."

McCain expressed confidence that "this commission's recommendations can serve as a guidepost for the reform and invigoration of America's homeland defenses."

Senator Robert Torricelli (Democrat, New Jersey), who has co-sponsored a similar bill, said, "An event of this magnitude historically cannot occur without people demanding some accountability and some review of how it happened and what failed."

A similar inquiry, with hearings expected to begin in February, already is planned by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

HOUSE CALLS ON SADDAM HUSSEIN TO READMIT WEAPONS INSPECTORS

The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling on Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to allow the unrestricted return of U.N. weapons inspectors.

The non-binding resolution -- one that expresses the view of Congress but does not carry the force of law -- passed by a 392-12 vote December 20.

Given the growing threat that Saddam's refusal poses to U.S. interests, legislators said, resumption of U.N. monitoring of his nation's weapons program is urgent.

"Saddam Hussein has one last chance to do what he was obligated to do over a decade ago," said Representative Tom Lantos of California, the senior Democrat on the House International Relations Committee. "There is little time to lose before we will have no choice but to take much stronger measures."

But Representative Ron Paul (Republican, Texas) was among congressmen who counseled against forcing a confrontation with Iraq. "I hardly see it as a threat to our national security," Paul said, adding, "This desire to immediately go into Iraq presents a threat to our security more than it helps."