July 19, 2007 – Delegate Donna M. Christensen was named to serve on the 9/11 Commission Conference Committee by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. She is one of 67 people from both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to serve on the committee.
"The Conference Committee meets to iron out differences between bills passed by the House and the Senate," Christensen aide Brian Modeste said Thursday. He said this committee will meet to discuss the bill that implements the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. That committee evaluated the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on New York City.
The Conference Committee started its work Thursday. The House passed its version of the bill on Jan. 9 and at the Senate on March 13.
Modeste said that it's possible that Christensen will be appointed to other conference committees because she's a senior member. He said that there are many advantages for the territory in having Christensen on the Conference Committee.
"If she wasn't there, no one on the committee would know the territories, much less the Virgin Islands, exist," he said.
Christensen said in a news release that she'll be able to influence measures that affect the territory.
"This is an honor and I am grateful that hard work, showing up when needed and supporting the Speaker, Chairman Benny Thompson and Ranking Member Peter King have paid off," Christensen said.
The bill will improve the screening for explosives in checked baggage at airports; expand the screening of cargo on passenger aircraft; beef up efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; crack down on transfer of nuclear technology; enhance communications inter-operability for first responders; strengthen efforts to prevent terrorist travel; improve intelligence and information sharing between state, local and federal law enforcement; strengthen public diplomacy; and implement other efforts to reduce the appeal of extremism.
After the Conference Committee reconciles the bills, the final version will go to President Bush for his signature.
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