The Senate today defeated two Republican-backed amendments to a homeland security bill -- including one proposal that would have caused every provision in the measure to expire in five years -- as lawmakers neared a vote on final passage late this afternoon. Democrats and a handful of Republicans voted to table two amendments from Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to the high-priority bill, which aims to implement unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. Coburn argued that his first amendment, with a five-year sunset provision, was necessary to ensure congressional review of homeland security policy.

"We don't know what the terrorism situation is going to be in five years," he said. "None of us know exactly what we need to do five years from now and a sunset will not cause this to lapse, it will cause us to act." Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Lieberman led opposition to the amendment, calling it "disruptive" and "bizarre." He said the bill contains numerous provisions that update homeland security policies based on lessons learned over the last few years. It was tabled by a 60-38 vote.

The second Coburn amendment would have required the Homeland Security Department to comply with a federal law that prohibits improper payments. The amendment, tabled 66-31, would have prohibited the department from making grant awards to state and local governments until it certifies the fiscal integrity of how grants were being managed and spent. The National Governors Association opposed the amendment, arguing that it would prevent state governments from receiving grants. Coburn said his amendment would force Homeland Security to better manage its money. "That is tough love. It's putting them under the gun. That's exactly what we're supposed to do," he said. "As this amendment goes down ... the senators are going to reject the very idea of having accountability."

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ranking member Susan Collins, R-Maine, led opposition to the amendment, saying it would halt grant programs and penalize first responders and state agencies for faults of the Homeland Security Department. "It isn't just the governors and the emergency managers, it's also the Department of Homeland Security that strongly opposes the amendment," she added. The Senate was expected to vote on at least three more amendments after breaking for party lunches. Lieberman said he expected a vote on final passage of the bill later this afternoon.