Working to address their concerns about three unrelated provisions included at the eleventh hour in the Homeland Security bill by the U.S. House of Representatives, Snowe and Collins led the effort to address these concerns before a key vote on a Daschle-Lieberman amendment to strip the provisions. The Senators noted that a vote for the Daschle amendment could have stalled passage of the Homeland Security bill this year, requiring the next Congress to start work anew on legislation they view as essential to protecting the nation from terrorism.
Instead, Snowe and Collins insisted on the commitment of both Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.), who will become Senate Majority Leader in the coming days, as well as Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and incoming House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-Tex.), to address the concerns in the Omnibus Appropriations legislation Congress will consider in January. Snowe and Collins waited in the Senate Republican Cloakroom for assurances from Rep. Delay and Speaker Hastert – who was en route to Turkey – before proceeding to the floor to cast their votes, and Senator Lott this afternoon will convene a committee of eight Senators, including both Snowe and Collins, to craft language addressing Senate concerns.
The three special interest provisions that will be changed include: • Vaccine Manufacturer Liability - Senators agreed to revise a provision included in the Homeland Security bill that provided a retroactive exemption from liability for manufacturers of vaccines, designed to assure the viability of vaccine manufacturers at a time when protection against biological attacks is critical. The revised language will grandfather pending court cases, and clarify that remedies may be pursued through the VIC program. • Offshore Corporations – Senators will revise a provision included in the Homeland Security bill that created a loophole permitting "inverted corporations" – companies that have located offshore in order to avoid federal taxation – to compete for federal contracts. Revised language will restrict competition by these corporations only to contracts essential to homeland security. • University research – Senators were concerned about a provision included in the Homeland Security bill that limited competition for research grants for homeland security purposes. The Senators will prepare language clarification that more universities, including the University of Maine, may compete for homeland security research funds.
"I was deeply concerned about the egregious, eleventh-hour addition of special interest provisions to the Homeland Security legislation, and spoke against inclusion of these provisions during a meeting of Senators before the vote, because I didn't believe we could afford to let them stand. It's crucial that we have secured the commitment of leaders in both the Senate and the House to address this legislation at the first opportunity next year so our concerns can be addressed," said Senator Snowe. "As a result of our agreement, the much-needed and long-delayed legislation creating a Department of Homeland Security can be sent to the President for his signature, so we can complete the process of the largest government reorganization in 50 years. At the same time, I hope we send a strong message that this type of eleventh hour, special interest provisions are egregious and unacceptable."
"Those who wish to do America harm will not wait for us to act. It is of critical importance, therefore, that we proceed with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security with all deliberate speed," said Senator Collins. "I am pleased that my Senate colleagues and I were able to ensure that a bill creating the department will reach the President''s desk this year, while, at the same time, that three troubling provisions hastily added to the bill without the benefit of debate or committee review will be corrected as soon as possible. As incoming Chair of the Committee on Governmental Affairs, I now look forward to helping get this Department up and running at full speed."
Senators who will negotiate the language on the contentious provisions include Snowe and Collins, and Senators Ted Stevens (R-Ariz.), Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).