HEARINGS AND MARKUPS ON HOLD AS TERRORISTS SHUT DOWN CONGRESS

Morning terrorist attacks Tues. on World Trade Center and Pentagon led to shutdown of Congress, although process was far from quick or orderly. Shortly after first of 2 hijacked planes crashed into World Trade Center in N.Y., House Speaker Hastert (R- Ill.) -- who is immediately behind Vice President Cheney in succession to presidency -- was evacuated by U.S. Capitol Police and Secret Service agents to secure, undisclosed location. Senate Majority Leader Daschle (D-S.D.) also was said to be in secure location, along with handful of other unnamed members of Congress. Top aide to Hastert said that while some time passed before orders were issued to evacuate all congressional personnel, after Hastert’s quick departure “a lot of people decided it would be a good idea to leave.” At least one hearing was interrupted in progress, and many others were cancelled.

Rep. Weller (R-Ill.) was in House gym when Trade Center attack occurred, and when we spoke with him he still was in his workout clothes. Weller acknowledged that communication with members had been poor, with them making their own evacuation decisions for themselves and their staffs. He wasn’t sure when Congress might resume its schedule. The Capitol Police held briefing attended by few dozen members around midmorning, at which they were told they should go home but were given little or no additional information. Several members told reporters Tues. that congressional activities probably would resume today (Wed.) after all of buildings had been swept by police and secured, in part to show those responsible for attacks that Congress couldn’t be so easily derailed.

At least 2 telecom-related hearings were cancelled Tues. as result of attacks. Senate Commerce Communications Subcommittee was scheduled to hold hearing on E-911 at 2 p.m., but that was postponed to date yet to be determined. Congressional Internet Caucus was unable to hold its e-learning conference, which had it been held would have featured several panels and technology fair focusing on need for incorporation of advanced telecom and Internet technologies in classrooms. Separately, Sens. Lieberman (D-Conn.), Frist (R-Tenn.), Dodd (D-Conn.) and Rep. Boehlert (R- N.Y.) had planned to hold afternoon news conference on Senate grounds to announce Tech Talent bill to establish competitive grant program at National Science Foundation to increase number of students receiving science, math, engineering and technology degrees.

House Judiciary Commercial Law Subcommittee Chmn. Barr (R- Ga.) ended 9 a.m. hearing on Internet taxation after less than hour. He opened hearing with moment of silence for attack victims (interrupted by ring of another subcommittee member’s mobile phone). During initial witness testimony Rayburn House Office Bldg. seemed to shudder, and witnesses described floor as vibrating. Barr soon learned cause after aide informed him of crash of hijacked jet into Pentagon just across Potomac River. Barr interrupted witness in midsentence to say: “I'm sorry but this hearing is now adjourned. Something serious has come up.” Attendees at hearing learned of Pentagon attack only after seeking information elsewhere.

In day filled with irony, 10 a.m. hearing that was cancelled was that of House Select Intelligence committee on FY 2002 funding for tactical intelligence activities. Administration has been lobbying for additional funding to protect U.S. from attacks -- both terrorist and military in nature -- from rogue nations, and Secy. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld 3 years ago chaired a commission that found such threats to be on rise. U.S. has budgeted more than $11 billion for antiterrorism in FY 2001 but President Bush has said he would like to see that amount increased. In another irony, another event cancelled by the Capitol evacuation was news conference by Rep. Weldon (R-Pa.) in House Radio & TV Gallery where he planned to propose additional $6 billion for military readiness, including upgrading telecom facilities at military bases. One hearing that may not occur this morning was scheduled by Senate Govt. Affairs Committee to examine the state of nation’s critical infrastructure, in part its vulnerability to terrorist threats.

Other events facing possible postponement today: (1) House Telecom Subcommittee on DTV transition at 10 a.m. in Rm. 2322, Rayburn Bldg. (2) Senate Judiciary Technology and Terrorism Subcommittee on Privacy Act of 2001 for 2 p.m. in Rm. 226, Dirksen Bldg.

By time of Pentagon attack, U.S. Capitol building was being evacuated, but House and Senate office buildings were not, and in fact Capitol Police still were permitting people to enter buildings. About 10 minutes after Pentagon attack one officer admitted that she wasn’t being informed as to whether the Rayburn Bldg. should be evacuated or in any way secured. By 10 a.m., however, streets surrounding Capitol, including office buildings, were being roped off block by block, forcing fleeing pedestrians further and further away from both Capitol and its office buildings. Lobbyist for high-tech industry group told us she was in shock: “I feel like one of those people in the disaster movies who just stands there doing nothing and dies 10 minutes into the film.” There was brief panic on D St. SE around 10 a.m. when sound resembling an explosion but of unexplained origin caused many pedestrians to run screaming, and scene was made more surreal with sound of military aircraft flying overhead.

D.C. Police were assisting Capitol Police in securing Capitol grounds, job that became more tense as reports came in of other possible attacks in city, including false report of car bomb at State Dept. Said one D.C. policeman who was securing a street west of White House because someone had called in threat of car bomb there: “I'm really scared right now.”