Senate Passes Bill Based on 9/11 Panel Proposals

By CARL HULSE
New York Times

WASHINGTON, July 26 — The Senate approved antiterrorism legislation late Thursday that grew out of the recommendations of the bipartisan Sept. 11 commission after voting overwhelmingly for a measure allocating $40 billion for domestic security in the coming year.

Approval of the antiterrorism bill, which passed 85 to 8, put Democrats within reach of one of their central legislative goals. Party leaders hope the victory helps put to rest talk of a do-nothing Congress before lawmakers begin an August break. The House was expected to pass it the measure and send it to President Bush as early as Friday.

“I believe this bill will greatly enhance the security of the American people, protecting them from natural disaster and also, God forbid, from terrorist attack,” said Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut who was one of the chief authors of the bill.

Defying the White House, Republican senators led an effort to add $3 billion for border security to the homeland security spending bill and suggested they would join an effort to override any veto by President Bush, who has threatened to reject bills that exceed his spending goals. The measure was approved 89 to 4.

“On the issue of border security,” said the Republican leader, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, “Senate Republicans have not been pleased with the administration’s progress, and are not particularly reluctant to have a vigorous discussion with the administration about the appropriateness of adequately funding border security.”

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