- WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The
House of Representatives approved legislation early on Friday to create
a bipartisan, independent commission to conduct a sweeping probe into last
year's Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
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- The vote came shortly past midnight and just hours after
the White House and congressional leaders struck a deal on the long-sought
investigation.
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- The measure now goes to the Senate, which may approve
it as early as Friday, and then send it to President Bush to sign into
law.
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- The 10-member commission would have 18 months to examine
why the assaults on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon
outside Washington were able to occur, specifically looking into any possible
breakdown in security.
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- The administration had long opposed such a commission,
arguing that a congressional investigation was better equipped to preserve
national security secrets. Even after it accepted the idea in September,
it argued with lawmakers over its composition.
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- But families of the victims of the attacks led a public
campaign for its creation, putting pressure on the White House and congressional
leaders to finally reach their agreement on Thursday.
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- "This is a decisive victory for the families of
September 11th victims and the nation as a whole," said Democratic
Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, who has pushed for creation of the
commission since shortly after the attacks.
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- "Finally we will get a clear picture of what government
agencies failed, how they failed and why," Lieberman said.
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- Congressional and administration negotiators agreed that
the 10-member commission would be equally divided with five Republican
appointees and five Democratic appointees.
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- In addition, Bush would name the chairman and the Democratic
congressional leadership would pick the vice chairman.
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- The commission would have 18 months to conduct a sweeping
probe, with the White House funding it from existing accounts. Subpoenas
could be issued by agreement of chair and vice chair or a vote of six of
the 10 commission members.
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