Bush signs 9/11 Commission bill

President Bush on Friday signed into law the so-called 9/11 Commission bill, legislation that builds on the work of the panel that investigated the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Bush highlighted several parts of the new law, including a provision that protects “Americans from being unduly prosecuted for reporting activity that could lead to acts of terrorism” and the modernization of the visa waiver program.

{mosads}However, the president stressed that Congress must do more to protect the homeland, especially through modernizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

“The director of national intelligence has stated unequivocally that without this change in the law, we will continue to miss significant amounts of information that we should be collecting to protect against potential terrorist attacks,” Bush said at the signing ceremony.

The president also urged Congress to make better use of homeland security grants by sending the funds to high-risk areas.

The signing of the bill is important for Democrats as they head into recess.

Republicans have been trying to make the term “Post Office Congress” stick for the 110th Congress, a swipe at Democrats meant to indicate that the new majority has only been successful in naming post offices and not in passing legislation.

With the 9/11 Commission bill now becoming law, Democrats can present their constituents with an accomplishment in the area of homeland security.