February 27, 2004   LIEBERMAN STANDS FOR 9-11 FAMILIES, COMPLETE INVESTIGATION OF MOST HORRIFIC ATTACK IN US HISTORY   WASHINGTON – Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., Friday won a hard-fought extension for the commission investigating the September 11th terrorist attacks. Lieberman and Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., authors of the original legislation that created the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, prevailed upon the House and Senate to approve a two-month extension for the commission so it can complete its inquiry, with another 30 days before it goes out of business. The commission’s reporting deadline would be extended from May 27 to July 27 and the commission would have until the end of August to conclude its activities, including testifying to Congress and disseminating the final report. “Given the horror of what happened on September 11th, it was incumbent upon us to provide the commission with the time it needed so that we might learn from the government’s mistakes, plug the holes in our domestic defenses, and prevent something like this from every happening again,” Lieberman said. “With this additional time, I hope the commission produces a report that the families of September 11th victims – and the rest of American – can have faith in.” The commission asked for a two-month extension last month and the Bush Administration said it supported the request. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., however, had objected. Hastert conceded his position late Friday and agreed to the extension in a letter to the commission. For more than a year, the commission has been laboring under extremely difficult circumstances, including a delayed start-up, a less than cooperative White House, and a short time frame to conduct a wide-ranging investigation. The commission was forced to subpoena agencies to get all the information it needed. And it has engaged in months of negotiations to gain access to crucial documents, and to secure interviews with top officials. The commissioners only recently won access to the most important White House intelligence briefing materials, and had to accept an unwieldy and time-consuming process for reviewing those documents.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 February 2004 Press Releases   February 27 current Press Release   February 27 - Nation Is Safer But Not Safe Enough   February 27 - Collins, Lieberman Urge Budget Committee to Fund Key Coast Guard Project   February 25 - Lieberman Says It Would Be Counterproductive To Deny The 9-11 Commission An Extension   February 25 - Administration Delays Watch List Consolidation Again   February 24 - Lieberman Calls for $14 Billion More For Homeland Security to Meet Needs Assessed By Bi-Partisan, Independent Analysts   February 20 - Senators Collins, Lieberman Comment on TSA’s Involvement in Obtaining Sensitive Airline Passenger Information   February 13 - Senators Call on TSA to Explain Its Role in Obtaining Sensitive Airline Passenger Information   February 9 - Lieberman Hearing Statement on FY 05 Department of Homeland Security Budget   February 4 - Senate Approves Collins, Lieberman Bill to Provide Cutting Edge Counterterrorism Equipment to Communities   February 2 - Lieberman Dumfounded By Dramatic First Responder Cuts   February 2 - Lieberman, McCain Call For 9-11 Commission Extension To Ensure As Thorough Investigation As Possible
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