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Recovery: Hill focuses on security

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

SUMMARY:

House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt called Tuesday for quick House action on a bill that would put the federal government in charge of airport security screeners.

Joined by several airline workers and fellow House Democrats, Gephardt accused Republican Reps. Tom DeLay and Dick Armey of Texas and other conservatives of blocking the airline security bill despite bipartisan support.

Elsewhere in Washington, FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh told a U.S. Senate committee that authorities could become much more effective in doing their jobs, particularly by improving communications.

UPDATE:

The Senate last week unanimously passed legislation calling for federal marshals on airplanes, increased cockpit security and hijack training for pilots.

The most controversial provision, opposed by President Bush, would make the 28,000 airport screeners and baggage handlers federal employees. (Full story)

The top emergency response manager in the nation told congressional leaders Tuesday that authorities could become much more effective in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

Joe Allbaugh, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, recommended that all emergency authorities, such as police and fire departments and first responders, have an established communications system through which they can easily talk to each other. (Full story)

Sales of condominiums in lower Manhattan ground to a halt in the first weeks after the World Trade Center attack. But with prices dropping by as much as 10 percent since then, bargain-hunters are now looking to buy.

A faltering economy had already caused prices to dip before the terrorist attacks. Now the question is: How low will they go in downtown neighborhoods? (Full story)

U.S. equity markets rallied by the close Tuesday, as stock investors pulled out of a tight trading range ahead of key quarterly results from IBM and Intel. (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

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the threat of more to come, e-commerce companies are counting on boosted online holiday sales.

Online spending took a dip immediately after the attacks, but it made a strong recovery. Sales were up 17 percent the week ended Oct. 8, from the week ended Sept. 10, according to BizRate.com, a comparison Web site and research firm that tracks 2,000 online sites. (Full story)

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been raised for victims of the September 11 attacks. But with people in the United States opening their hearts and checkbooks as never before, representatives of many charities are expressing concerns about the future.

"We'll see more dollars go to the relief efforts that perhaps might have gone to other organizations. We're most concerned about organizations that rely heavily on corporate donations," said Kristina Carlson, president of Fundraisinginfo.com. (Full story)

New York has scheduled a job fair to assist those displaced by the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, Mayor Rudy Giuliani announced. The fair is scheduled for Wednesday, October 17, at Madison Square Garden. The city received another boost Monday: the reopening of Fraunces Tavern, a downtown icon since Revolutionary War days. (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 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

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

Rudy Giuliani: Mayor of New York Click here for more

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: 4,688 reported missing to the New York Police Department, including the 157 people on the two hijacked planes; 450 confirmed dead, 395 bodies 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.

Several industries -- particularly the airline industry and the insurance industry -- have been hit hard by the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, and their progress will be watched closely as a guide to the overall U.S. economic and psychological recovery.