Lawmakers to continue talks on massive security bill

House and Senate lawmakers and their aides will continue behind-the-scenes negotiations this week on legislation implementing unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, after failing to wrap up work last week during a public conference.

Lawmakers still need to resolve a handful of outstanding issues, such as which federal agency will manage grants for transportation security, how to help local governments buy interoperable communications equipment, and whether a provision will be included that gives people immunity if they are sued for reporting on suspicious activity around transportation networks.

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., said the measure has gained "even greater urgency in recent weeks, given terrorist activity in the United Kingdom, the national intelligence estimate on [al-Qaida's] continuing intentions to strike the U.S., and warnings from Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff that the U.S. remains vulnerable, especially during these summer months."

But another wrinkle to completing the legislation emerged late last week because conferees approved an amendment to the bill that would require the Homeland Security Department to ensure, within five years, that most cargo is scanned before it is shipped to the United States. The amendment only makes an exception for shipments of cargo and equipment for the U.S. military.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ranking member Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she would not sign a final conference report if the provision remains, indicating that she will try this week to alter or delete the cargo-scanning language from the bill.

If other senators join Collins in protest, it could imperil final legislation from being sent to President Bush, aides said.

Meanwhile, Collins and House Homeland Security ranking member Peter King, R-N.Y., are leading an effort to add another provision to the bill that would give people immunity for reporting suspicious activity around transportation networks.

King said he received assurances that Lieberman would help to add the provision. House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., however, said he wants to see language in the provision changed to ensure that it does not lead to racial profiling or the targeting of innocent people.