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Recovery: Senate approves anti-terrorism bill

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

SUMMARY:

The Senate passed anti-terrorism legislation Thursday, a day after it was approved by the House. The bill is expected to be signed by President Bush Friday.

The House also narrowly passed a $100 billion economic stimulus package Wednesday. This bill is expected to meet strong opposition in the Senate, which wants a less costly stimulus package.

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge addressed the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Emergency, Safety and Security Summit and outlined the Bush administration's plan for a comprehensive domestic security plan Thursday.

UPDATE:

The U.S. Senate Thursday gave final congressional approval to a landmark bill that would expand the power of law enforcement to track down terrorists.

President Bush, who has sought such legislation since shortly after the September 11 attacks on the United States, is expected to sign the measure into law Friday. The House had approved the bill, which gives police new power to secretly search the homes of terrorism suspects, tap all their phones and track their use of the Internet, on Wednesday by a vote of 357-66. (Full story)

Homeland security chief Tom Ridge outlined the Bush administration's proposal for a comprehensive domestic security plan Thursday, telling a conference of the nation's mayors that they and many of their employees would be key personnel in the strategy.

Ridge said that the homeland security plan would be built on that existing infrastructure, but noted that a fully effective strategy would go beyond government. "It can't just be the public sector," the former Pennsylvania governor said. "It has to be the private sector as well." (Full story)

President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta will intensify their personal lobbying for an airline security bill, drafted by House GOP leaders, that does not require federalization of baggage screeners and other airport security personnel, senior administration sources tell CNN.

At a senior-level White House meeting the final touches were applied to the lobbying plan. The strategy is due to culminate in a House floor vote next Wednesday. (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

Groups tracking backlash violence since the September 11 attacks say hate crimes appear to be tapering off, although there are new complaints of workplace discrimination.

Reports of beatings, hate mail and firebombings poured into the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and the Sikh Coalition in the weeks following the terrorist attacks. For the most part, those reports seem to have slowed, advocates said. (Full story)

Wall Street rallied in the face of dismal economic news Thursday as investors wary of missing the next big gain continued buying stocks on any dips.

Down nearly 48-points this morning, the Nasdaq composite index finished with a 2.5 percent gain. The Dow Jones industrial average bounced back from a 168 point decline to finish more than 11 point higher. (Full story)

Hardware store owner James Mirshamsi, returning to his lower Manhattan business for the first time since September 11, looked toward the smoldering rubble at ground zero and pondered how many of his customers would be back.

Mirshamsi was one of several store owners who were able to get back to business, when the frozen area around the World Trade Center site was reduced by several blocks. (Full story)

The New York state Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill to expand gambling in New York, with state leaders saying new revenue sources are crucial because of the World Trade Center attacks.

The proposal would expand the number of Indian-run casinos in the state from two to as many as eight, introduce video lottery terminals at many horse racing tracks and let New Yorkers buy tickets to the big-money, multistate Powerball lottery. (Full story)

Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, people who live near nuclear plants have been buying potassium iodide pills, which can help protect against cancer from radiation exposure. They're concerned about a terrorist attack.

"The terrorist doesn't make an announcement ahead of time, 'We are going to attack the nuclear power plant,' " said a Duxbury, Massachusetts, resident who lives seven miles from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth. (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: 4,339 reported missing to the New York Police Department, including the 157 people on the two hijacked planes. Of the 473 people whose remains have been recovered, 422 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.