U.S. BORDERS House OKs Traficant amendment

By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment sponsored by Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. to the Intelligence Authorization bill requiring the independent commission created by the bill to assess security at the nation's borders.
The Traficant amendment also requires the commission to examine the performance of intelligence agencies before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"The soft underbelly of America is wide open, and if we do not take a look at our borders, God forbid, there will be Americans that will die," Traficant, of Poland, D-17th, said on the House floor.
Traficant said the commission should be required to give the government a complete analysis of what is happening on the U.S. borders.
"And if we're prepared to put the military in our airports, why shouldn't we do the same for our borders?" he said.
If Traficant's amendment is signed into law, the independent commission would conduct an assessment of security at the borders with respect to terrorist and narcotics interdiction efforts.
"Clearly the committee would look at the border as part of its report, but this amendment calls special attention to the border and designates it as a priority," said Charles Straub, Traficant's spokesman. "It's an obvious place to look, but it's been ignored for years."
Major concern: Traficant was given the honor of sponsoring the amendment because border security has been one of his major concerns, Straub said.
"He's recognized as the champion of efforts with border security and that it has not been what it needs to be in the past," Straub said.
Traficant-written legislation requiring purchases by intelligence agencies be American-made whenever possible was included in the Intelligence Authorization bill. Traficant has had the "Buy American" amendment included in major spending and authorization bills by the House for years.
Instead of having Traficant request the amendment on the House floor, the Select Intelligence Committee asked the congressman's office for the amendment's language and included it in the bill, Straub said.
Previous amendment: The House approved a Traficant amendment in September to permit the military to assist federal law enforcement officers with drug interdiction and counterterrorism at the nation's borders. The Intelligene Authorization bill needs approval from the Senate and to be signed by the president before it can become law.
skolnick@vindy.com