国会记录:2003年1月23日(参议院)页面S1466 ______ 9 - 11事件调查委员会科赞额外的语句。总统先生，今年11月，经过广泛讨论，国会授权成立一个委员会，调查围绕9 / 11恐怖袭击的事件。该委员会应发挥至关重要的作用，使我们能够更好地了解这一全国性悲剧所发生的事件，并更好地防范今后发生类似袭击的威胁。委员会的工作对于在9 / 11事件中失去亲人的成千上万的家庭来说也是至关重要的，对于那些想要更好地了解那灾难性的一天发生了什么的家庭来说也是至关重要的，对于那些想要确保所有责任人都被追究责任的家庭来说也是至关重要的。这些家庭遭受了巨大的损失，他们应该得到我们的支持。然而，我非常关切的是，委员会可能缺乏做好这项工作所需的资源。到目前为止，在2003财政年度的国防拨款法案中，国会仅为该委员会拨款300万美元。从所有迹象来看，这是远远不够的。如果我们不能提供额外的资金作为补充，我们不仅会让9 / 11受害者的记忆蒙羞，而且还会危及所有美国人未来的安全。总统先生，最近几天，我和我的工作人员与几位任命的民主党和共和党委员讨论了这个重要调查委员会的运作情况。 They have explained that the $3 million appropriated so far appears woefully insufficient to meet the commission's anticipated needs this fiscal year. in fact, actual needs for FY2003 probably will exceed $6 million--more than twice the amount approved by the Congress. Mr. President, the responsibilities of the September 11 commission are much broader than the other commissions and it is simply unreasonable to expect the commission to function effectively with only $3 million. After all, that's a $2 million less than the funding received by a 1996 commission to look into the issues surrounding legalized gambling. Think about that: $5 million to study gambling, $3 million to study the worst terrorist attack in the history of this country. That simply does not make sense. Mr. President, it is important to remember that this commission has responsibilities and requirements that go far beyond those of any other commission in U.S. history. There are unique and expensive logistical requirements, including the hiring of expert staff with high-level security clearances. The commission must secure real estate appropriate for top secret discussions, and provide high-level security of its employees and its information systems. In order to complete the work of this important commission thoroughly and on time, more resources will be needed during this fiscal year, and in the future. Mr. President, I am hopeful that if the Congress considers a supplemental appropriations bill later this year, that legislation will include needed additional resources for the commission. In fact, I had prepared an amendment to this bill to increase funding for the commission by $3 million. However, after a conversation with Governor Tom Kean, chair of the commission, I have decided not to introduce my amendment at this time. Rather, I will wait until a formal budget is drawn up by the commission. I want to assure my colleagues, however, that I will not stop fighting for increased funding for the commission until I am convinced that the September 11 commission has received the funding that it needs to investigate the worst attack on American soil in our history. This matter is simply too important to do anything less. ____________________