Davis Expresses Concern Over Democratic Attempt to Rewrite 9/11 Recommendations Law
This evening the House considered H.R. 1, Democratic legislation that attempts to rewrite the 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act. The Republican-led House passed this legislation in 2004 to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission after extensive hearings and debate. Unlike the provisions of the legislation approved by the House this evening, the 2004 law implemented recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that enjoyed broad consensus and bipartisan support.
Congressman Geoff Davis expressed concerns over a provision in the Democratic bill that could undermine the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). H.R. 1 urges "with a particular emphasis" that the President should work with the United Nations Security Council to "authorize the PSI under international law."
The Proliferation Security Initiative is a multilateral program created by the United States that has proven to be an effective tool in combating the spread of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. The State Department has credited the PSI from halting two-dozen weapons-related transfers from 2005 to 2006. Launched in Krakow, Poland, on May 31, 2003, the PSI has grown from a handful of nations to a global partnership of more than 70 countries.
One success of the program includes halting the illegal transfer of centrifuge parts for uranium enrichment to Libya in 2003. The program is also responsible for dismantling the network of Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan that stretched over three continents.
Congressman Davis stated, "I have serious concerns about making the PSI subject to United Nations approval and the effect that this could have on our ability to fight the War on Terror. The PSI has proved an effective tool in combating weapons transfers and in controlling the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
"The United Nations is an organization that does not even have a formal definition of terrorism. The United States Government should be responsible for approving and implementing U.S. national security programs, not the United Nations.
"As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I co-chaired a panel examining emerging nuclear threats, including efforts by Iran to enrich uranium. Members of the United Nations Security Council have used their position to undermine efforts to combat Iran's nuclear aggression. The U.N. is not an organization we can rely on to approve such a critical and effective tool in the War on Terror.
"H.R. 1 passed the House this evening without input from national security experts, without debate in Committee and without my support. I strongly urge the United States Senate to more carefully consider the implications of this bill before placing this program at the mercy of the United Nations."
H.R. 1 fails to implement many of the reforms that the Democrats initially promised during campaign season last fall. That's because the Democrats have realized, as did the Republicans, that many of the 9/11 Commissions' recommendations could be detrimental to our national security.
http://geoffdavis.house.gov/Read.aspx?ID=421