John Doe Resurrected!

The September 11 Security Bill will be on the President’s desk next week! This bill is designed to strengthen screening of air and sea cargo could be on the president’s desk within the next week!

House Democrats, stressing the legislation’s importance, passed it on the first day of the session last January (H.R.1), and the Senate passed its version in March (S.4). However, last week a House and Senate conference committee, and pushed by democrats, dropped the John Doe provision an amendment that would have provided immunity to citizens who in good faith report suspicious activity to authorities. This resulted in outrage across the blogosphere that resulted in the re-inclusion of the John Doe provision.

Michelle Malkin has more: here.

Also, Hot Air has the final language of the bill: here.

The Center for Security Policy in a press release said:

“The Center for Security Policy is gratified that its efforts, those of innumerable bloggers, radio talk show hosts and other public-minded citizens translated into an important legislative victory late last night. …Rep. King’s initiative will shortly become law.”

Interestingly enough, one recommendation the bill doesn’t address is the need for Congress to consolidate its own homeland security functions by reducing the number of committees with a hand in security issues. In reference to this little tidbit of information, Thomas H. Kean, chairman of the 9/11 Commission, said, “Congress hasn’t done anything about itself.”