COMPLETE COVERAGE | FRONT LINES | AMERICA AT HOME | INTERACTIVES »

Recovery: Aviation security debate continues

New York is pondering the future of the World Trade Center site as it clears the rubble.

SUMMARY:

The issue of federalizing airport security screeners is front and center in Congress this week. A number of Republican House leaders -- as well as President Bush -- support a bill that puts the government in control of supervising the nation's 28,000 screeners but keeps them and other airport security personnel in the private sector. This position is at odds with that of many House Democrats, who want screeners to be federal employees.

In a separate aviation security development, airlines are checking the names of passengers against FBI lists of potential terrorists in an effort to strengthen aviation security after the terrorist attacks.

New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani testified at a House Terrorism and Homeland Security hearing Monday in New York. He emphasized the need for cooperation between the FBI and local and state authorities and called for legislation to improve the sharing of information between these agencies.

UPDATE:

New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani Monday said federal legislation should be drafted with a provision "that permits sharing of information between the FBI and state and local authorities."

"We've got to go into an absolute new revolutionary era in the sharing of information," Giuliani said. "We need real-time information about what is happening." Giuliani also called on the FBI to create a joint office with state and local authorities headed by a "high-level assistant director to make sure this happens." (Full story)

•  Summary   •  Update   •  Key questions   •  Impact

REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS   •  Emergency information   •  Partial list of victims   •  Victims story archives   •  Latest news

CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

VIDEO CNN's Candy Crowley talks with Berkeley peace activists who believe protest is patriotic (October 19) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

MORE STORIES

Airlines are checking the names of passengers against FBI lists of potential terrorists in an effort to strengthen aviation security after the terrorist attacks.

Passenger reservations are checked against the FBI's watch list, sometimes with software offering alternative spellings of Arabic names to prevent people from evading detection by using a different translation. (Full story)

President Bush is willing to impose his version of airport security by executive order if Congress doesn't pass a bill that allows the federal government to contract with private companies to provide airport and baggage security, a key House GOP ally of the Bush White House told CNN.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Chief Deputy House Majority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri predicted the House will pass a bill that provides for maximum federal flexibility in imposing tough security standards at U.S. airports. (Full story)

Firefighters who raced to the World Trade Center collapse last month will be checked for respiratory problems. Dr. David Prezant, chief pulmonologist for the New York Fire Department, said there has been an increase in the number of cases he calls the "World Trade Center cough." (Full story)

The International Association of Chiefs of Police is meeting in Toronto. For 90 minutes Sunday, a darkened convention hall became the recreated chaos of New York City on September 11, as the assembled law enforcement officers listened to anguished voices begging for help in calls to 911, and radio transmissions crackled with reports of officers down and buildings collapsing.

The meeting, planned long before the attacks, is the first major gathering of law enforcement officials since September 11. (Full story)

The viewing deck atop Chicago's Sears Tower is reopening to the public Monday for the first time since the September 11 terrorist attacks. Former President George Bush joined Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and other dignitaries at a news conference announcing the reopening of the tallest skyscraper in the United States. (Full story)

U.S. stock indexes fell Monday as concerns about weak gross domestic product data and Corporate America -- heightened by Boeing's failure to win a $200 billion Defense Department contract -- magnified the selling that typically follows a sustained rally. The Dow Jones industrial average lost about 270 points, or 2.7 percent; the Nasdaq composite index dropped about 70 points, or more than 3 percent; and the S&P 500 gave back about 25 points, or more than 2 percent. (Full story)

KEY QUESTIONS:

What will be the long-range impact on the global airline industry? Click here for more

Are security breaches common at U.S. airports? What is the government doing to improve airport safety? Click here for more

How is Congress helping out in the recovery process? Click here for more

Are people going to celebrate Halloween this year? (Click here for more)

Are children able to grasp the severity of the September 11 attacks? How are they coping?

Will firefighters take greater precautions in rushing into burning buildings in the aftermath of the attacks?

How long will it take to reopen the damaged section of the Pentagon? At what cost? Click here for more

What will happen to the World Trade Center site? Click here for more

What measures will be taken to try to prevent a recurrence of such attacks? Click here for more

WHO'S WHO:

George W. Bush: U.S. president Click here for more.

Laura Bush: First lady of the United States, she has become more visible since the terrorist attacks, making public appearances urging parents and teachers to help reassure children that everything is being done to try to keep them safe. Click here for more

Tom Ridge: Director of the U.S. Office of Homeland Security, a new Cabinet-level position Click here for more

Richard Clarke: Head of efforts to safeguard information systems for the Office of Homeland Security Click here for more

Wayne Downing: Retired Army general tapped as deputy national security adviser Click here for more

Joe Allbaugh:The chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Click here for more

Dr. David Satcher: Surgeon General of the United States

Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan: Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Click here for more

Rudy Giuliani: Mayor of New York Click here for more

Michael Bloomberg: Republican candidate for mayor of New York
Mark Green: Democratic candidate for mayor of New York
The New York mayoral election is November 6, and the winner of the election will begin a four-year term at the beginning of 2002.

Anthony A. Williams: Mayor of Washington

Dr. Ivan Walks: Director of the Department of Health for the District of Columbia

Paul O'Neill: Treasury secretary

Norman Y. Mineta:Transportation secretary

Jane Garvey: FAA administrator

VICTIMS:

The latest figures provided by federal and local officials give the following totals for the number of people dead or missing from the September 11 attacks.

WORLD TRADE CENTER: 4,167 reported missing to the New York Police Department, including the 157 people on the two hijacked planes. Of the 506 people whose remains have been recovered, 454 have been identified.

PENTAGON: 64 dead on hijacked plane; another 125 dead or missing

PENNSYLVANIA: 44 confirmed dead on hijacked plane

IMPACT:

The events of September 11 exposed the vulnerability of the world's greatest superpower, presenting the United States with the challenge of recovering emotionally and physically.

The U.S. economy, threatened by recession before September 11, has suffered a number of blows in the weeks since. Several industries -- particularly the airline industry -- were hit hard by the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, and leading economic indicators dropped in September. Yet the nation's financial markets have thus far weathered the uncertainty, making up losses experienced in the days after reopening.

Incidents of anthrax found in mail have frightened many, and the notable increase of security at offices and public places indicates America to be a warier, more cautious place. But daily life has not been put on hold: People are still attending entertainment events, going to ballgames, and getting out. Psychologically, the country appears to be finding its way.