Security bill negotiators settle two issues

Negotiations over the weekend and early Monday yielded breakthroughs on two of the most contentious issues holding up a sweeping bill to implement unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, according to aides.

House and Senate conferees have agreed in principle to let the Bush administration decide which federal agency should be in charge of managing and disbursing transportation security grants, aides said. The administration has already stated its preference to have the Homeland Security Department handle the job, rather than the Transportation Department, aides added.

The agreement essentially mirrors language in the Senate's version of the 9/11 Commission legislation. One aide cautioned, however, that the final agreement on transportation grants has not been formally approved by the House and Senate leadership.

On another front, lawmakers have agreed in principle to give the Federal Emergency Management Agency responsibility for grants aimed at helping state and local governments buy interoperable communications equipment, aides said.

Divisions over how to administer the transportation security grants and interoperable communications grants have blocked a final 9/11 Commission bill for weeks. During a public conference meeting last week, for example, House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., offered an amendment that would allow the Homeland Security and Transportation departments to share control of transportation security grants.

Oberstar said he did not trust giving total control to Homeland Security. But senators did not agree to his amendment, essentially killing it. A spokeswoman for Oberstar declined to comment Monday.

Conferees had not decided whether include a provision in the bill that would give immunity to individuals if they are sued for reporting suspicious activity around transportation networks. The provision is supported by House Homeland Security ranking member Peter King, R-N.Y., as well as by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and ranking member Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Lieberman said the Senate parliamentarian has ruled the provision can be included in the bill. But House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said last week he wanted to alter the wording of the provision to ensure it does not lead to racial profiling or the targeting of innocent people. Thompson's office did not clarify by presstime whether he is trying to change the language.

Regardless, aides were optimistic that work on the 9/11 bill would be wrapped up this week. "It looks like it's in good shape," one aide said.