The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer : WETA : September 30, 2009 7:00pm-8:00pm EDT; The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer

aptioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIS

>> Lehrer: GOOD EVENING. I'M JIM LEHRER. ON THE "NEWSHOUR" TH WEDNESDAY: THE LEAD STORY: POWERFUL EARTHQUAKES SHAKE DONESIA AND AMERICAN SAMOA. GWEN IFILL HAS T LATEST. THEN, AFTER THE OTHER NE OF THE DAY: TWO ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS; JEFFREY BRO ON NEW LEGISLATION CKLING GLOBAL WARMING; AND TOM BEARD ON GREEN HOUSES BUILT FROM OL TIRES AND ALUMINUMANS. PL, RAY SUAREZ REPORTS ON TEXTG AND TALKING ON CELL PHONES WHILERIVING.

>> Suaz: TRANSPORTATION CRETARY LaHOOD CALLED THE PRLEM AN EPIDEMIC AND A MENACE SOCIETY. HE'LL TELL UWHY.

>> Lehrer: A MARGARET WARNER LOOKS AT A POLICY SHT TOWARD THE ISOLATED NATIOOF MYANMAR, ALSO KNOWN AS BURMA.

>> Warner: THAMEANS NEW U.S.- BURMA ENGAGENT AFTER YEARS OF NOTALKING. BUT END TO SANCTIONS YET. I'LLAVE THE STORY.

>> Lehrer: ALLHAT AN MORE ON TH"NEWSHOUR" TONIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE NEWSUR WITH JIM LEHREIS PROVIDED BY: ♪ ( HARD ROCK GUITAR RIFF PLING )

>> WE A INTEL, SPONSO OF TOMORROW.

>> 150 YRS OF FINANCIAL RENGTH AND THE EXPERIENCE OF AN EABLISHED INVESTMENT FIRM HAVE COME TOGETHER. WACHOVIA SECURITIES IS NOWELLS FARGO ADSORS. THE FINCIAL ADVISORS NEARBY AND NATIONWIDE WI THE ADVICE AND PLANNING EXPERTISE TO HELYOU ADDRESS TODAY'S UNIQUEHALLENGES, WE'RE WITH YOU. WACHOVIA SECURITIEIS NOW WELLS FARGO ADVISORS. TOGEER, WE'LL GO FAR.

>> CHEVRON THIS IS THE POR OF HUMAN ENERGY AND THE WILLIAM AND ORA HEWLETT FODATION, WORKING TO SOLVE SOCIAL AND EIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AT HOME AND AROUND E WORLD. AND WITHHE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FODATIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM W MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YO PBS STATION FR VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU.

>> Lehrer: UNDERSEEARTHQUAKES CAUSED DASTER IN TWO OCEANS TOY. THE DEATH TOLL WAST LEAST 119 AMERICAN SAMOA AND ITS IGHBORING ISLANDS. A POWERFUL QUAKE HIT NRBY ON TUESDAY. IT TRIGGERED SERIES OF GIANT WAVES THAT BLAED ASHORE WITHIN MINUTES. AND TODAY, ANOTHER DEESEA TREM HIT WESTERN INDONESIA. CAALTIES AROUND THE CITY OF PADANGERE 100 TO 200 DEAD, AND IMBING. JONATHAN MILLER OF INDEPDENT TELEVISION NS BEGINS OUR LEAD STORY COVERAGE. Reporter: PADANG: AN URBAN TECTONIC DISASTER NG WAITING TO HAPN; A CITY OF NEARLY A MILLION, THROWN TO PANIC AT A QUARTER PAST FIVE LOCAL TIME THIS AFTERNO. AND WHO CAN BLAME THEM? THEY'RE JUST00 MILES DOWN THE SUMATRAN CST FROM THE EPICENTRE OF THE HUGE QUAKTHAT TRIGRED THE ASIAN TSUNAMI FIVE YEARS AGO, KILLING 170,000 PEOPLE IN THE PRINCE OF ACEH. IS 7.6 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE, ALOUGH 15 TIMES SMLER THAN THE HUGE ACEH ONE,S STILL POWERFUL, ANIT'S ONLY TWO YES SINCE THE LAST EARTHQUAKES HERE WCH SEISMOLOGISTSOLD US TONIGHT OULD HAVE SERVED AS A WARNING. INITIAL PICTES SHOWED FIRES GING, EMERGENCY SERVICES UNABLEO GET TO WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED. TONIGHT, ROADS A CUT, BRIDGES ARE DOWN, COMMS ARDOWN AND NOW IT 1:00 A.M. AND PITCH BLACK, WI NO POWER. THESE PICTUR JUST IN: PEOPLE SCRAMBNG BARE-HANDED IN THE RUBB OF COLLAPSED BUILDINGS, GRIM FACED. A SENSE THAT WE'LL ONLY GIN TO GET A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE ME YLIGHT, BUT INDONESIA'VICE PRESIDENT TOLD A LATE-NIGHT WS CONFERENCE THAT THE MBERS KILLED IN PADANG WILL KELY ONE HOSPITALEPORTED COLLAPSED, OTHERS WORKING FLAT OUT NO MANY LIE TRAPPEDN WRECKED BUILDINGS, THE VE-PRESIDENT SAID. HEALTH MINISTRY OFFICIAL SAI THOUSANDS WE TRAPPED UNDER RUBBLE. IT'S BN A VIOLENT 24 HOURS ON THPACIFIC RING OF FIRE; A SERIES OF TSUNAMIS SLAMMING TO THE SAMOAN ISLANDS AFTER A EARLMORNING EIGHT MAGNITUDE QUE 11 MILES UNDER THE OCEAN, AND 125 MILES SOUTH OF APIA,HE SAMO CAPITAL.

>> LORD WE PRAY...

>> Reporter: THESE PICTUS THOUGHFROM THE PAGO PAGO, CAPITAL OF THE ISLANOF AMERAN SAMOA, 50 MILES TO THE EAST. TAKE PNO BUSINESSMAN-- THE

>> THE WATER STARTEDURGING. AT FIRST, ONLY THREER FOUR FEET IN PARKING LOT. BUT AFTER, STAYED FOSEVERAL MINUTES, ANOTH FANTASTIC SURGE THAT DWAED THE FIRST SURGE CAME IN. TRS, BOATS, CARS, TRUCKS WERE ALL FLOATING PASMY SECOND STORY WINDOW. IT COMPLETELY WIPEOUT ANYTHING THAT WASN'T MADE OF BRICK. HOMES,USINESSES-- EVERYTHING THAT WAS CGHT IN THE SURGE IN THE PAGO PAGO HARBOR AREA S COMPLETE FLATTENED.

>> Reporter: ME THAN 100 DEAD IN THE SAMOAISLANDS, OERS REPORTED KILLED ON TON TO THE SOUTH, THESE AERIAL STIL RECEIVED THIS EVENG. PRESIDT OBAMA HAS DECLARED A MAJOR DISASTER IN AMERAN SAMOA. THE ERICAN FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ANCY SAYS TENS OF OUSANDS NEED HELP. REPORTS OF FLATTENED CSTAL VILLAGES AND TOURIST RORTS; BODIES SWEPT FAR OUTO SEA. THE PACIFIC A FLOOR DROPPED AT 17:48 G.M.T., ELVE MINUTES TO SEVEN IN THEORNING LOCAL TIME. THE TREMORS LASTED SERAL MINUTES. TOOK THE U.S. PACIFIC TSUNA WARNING CENTERN HAWAII 16 MITES TO RECEIVE THE SEISMIC DATA, CALCULATE THE RAMETERS ANISSUE AN ALERT, BUT BY THEN, THE SEWAS ALREADY BEING SUCKED OUT IN THE CITAL AMERICAN SAMOA AND 07:30 A FOUR-METER- GH WALL OF WATER CRASHED IN; FOLLOWED BY ANOTHEAND ANOTHER. PAGO PAGO, THE CITAL OF AMERICANAMOA, SITS AT THE HEAD OF AN INLET, WHICH FUNNELEAND AMPLIFIED THE WAVE. THE EARLY WARNING SYST DIDN'T FAIL; IT WAS JT THAT THE QUAKE WAS SO CLOSEO THE ISLANDS AND THE WAVES AVELED FAST.

>> AN ENT LIKE THIS WHERE THE SOUR IS VERY CLOSE TO THE ISLAND, THERE'S TEN VERY LITTLE POSSIBITY FOR OFFICIAL WARNIN OUR CENTER DID ISSUE WARNING ABT 15 MINUTES AFTER EARTHQUAKE. THOSE COUNTIES IN AMERICANAMOA WOULD HAVE RECEIVED THAT WNING ANTRANSLATED TO EVACUATION IN 10 OR 15 MINUTES. EY HAD LEFT BEFORE THE WAVES ARRIVED WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

>> Reporter: THE SAMOA TSUNA AND THE MATRA QUAKE AR UNRELATED INCIDES BUT ILLUSTRATE THE TECTONIC INSTABILITOF THE PACIFIC RIM GION; AN AREA ALL TOO PRONE TRAGEDIES OF THIS NATU. TONIGHT, THE VERY LATESTROM THE CITY OF PADA: REPORTS THAT A THOUSAND PEOPLE MAY HAVEIED IN A QUAKE SO STNG THAT IT SHOOK OFFICEUILDINGS IN SINGORE AND THE MALAYSIAN CAPITAL, KUALA LUMPUR, 3 MILES AWAY.

>> Lehrer:WEN IFILL HANDLES BOTH QUAKETORIES. RST, INDONESIA. Ifill: THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RECROSS AND RED CRCENT IS ONE OF THE HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES DIATCHING AID TEAMS TO SUMATRA. WE GET A TELEPHO UPDATE FROM BOB McKERROW, HEAD OTHE RED CROSS DELEGATIONN JAKARTA. RY FEW PEOPLE SEE WHAT IT'S LI IN DAYLIGHT. WITHIN TWO HOURSE'LL BE ABLE TO P PLANES IN THE AIR AND DO AN AERIAL ASSESSMENT. BUT THE MAGE TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS IS QUITE EXTSIVE. HOSPITALS, CLINI, SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES SEEM BE QUITE BADLY MAGED, AND THOUSANDS OF HOMES HAVE BEEDESTROYED. PEOPLE ARE SLL TRAPPED UNDER BBLE. SO IT'S QUITE A SEOUS SITUATION.

>> IfillSO BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SO DARK, YOU HEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A RL FIX ON THE NUMBER OF DEAD AND MISSIN

>> Reporter: Y. THE RECENT FIGURES A ABOUT 85 PEOPLE DEAD, BUT NFIGURES ON THE NUMBER OF PEOP MISSING. BUT IT'S QUITELARMING. A NUER OF PEOPLE ARE INJURED. WE'RE GETTING REPORTS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLEUITE BADLY INJURE

>> Ifill: ALSO GHER THERE'S QUITE A WIDESPREAD ECTRICAL ACKOUT WHICH MUST BEEN HINDERING THINGS, SO. Reporter: YES, THERE'S BEEN BLACKOUT. LETS IT SES INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS BRIDGES AND ADHAVE BEEN QUITE SERIOUSLY AFFECD. 'S LOOKING QUITE SERIOUS EARTHQUAKE.

>> Ifill: IS THERE ANY WAYO COMPE IT TO EARTHQUAKES YOU'VE SEEN IN THIS REGION,AY IN 2006 WHEN 3,000 PEOE DIED?

>> Repter: I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO CPARE. WE'RE ON AT ONE HOUR OF DAYLIGHT TO HAVE LOOK. I WOULD RERVE JUDGMENT UNTIL WE GET SOME PLES UP IN THE AIR BUT CERTAINLY IT'S LOOKINGUITE BAD.

>> Ifill: WE ARE AO GETTING REPORTS OF LANDSLIDES. IS THERE ANY W TO DOCUMENT TH?

>> Reporter: IAD ONE REPORT OF A LANDIDE HIT HITTING A MAIN ROAD BUT NO OTHER PORTS OF LANDSLIDES YET.

>> Ill: IT'S EASY TO LOOK BACK TER THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN AND THINK OFHE THINGS THE COUNTRY COULD HAVE DON BUT GIVEN WHAT WE KNOW, WAS INNESIA PREPARED FOR A QUAKE OF THIS MAGNITUDE?

>> Reporter: I TNK SINCE THE TSUNAMI IN 2004, THE INDESIAN GOVERNMENT H REALLY BEEN COMMITTETO DISASTER EPAREDNESS AND DONE A LOT OF TRAINING AT THE COMMUNITY LEL AND PROVINCIAL LEVEL. THEY'VE BUILT REHOUSES AND SO HAS THE RED CROS WE'VE GOT ITE A LOT OF HIGHLY TRAINED PEOPLE... ANWE HAVE STOCILES OF RELIEF EQUIPMENT AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES. I THINK INDONESIA IS MUCH BEER PREPARED THAN IT WAS THREER FOUR YEAR AGO. Ifill: THE IMAGINE THE BULK OF THE RELIEF EFFORTS WILL BEGIN AT DAYBREAK.

>> Reporter:E HAVE LOTS OF OPLE ON STANDBY AT VARIOUS AIRPORTS READYO GO, RESCUE AND MECAL TEAMS. WE'RNOT GOING TO BE SHORT OF PEOPLE, THANK GOODNESS.

>> Ifill: BOB McKERR WITH THE INTERNATIONAL D CROSS IN JAKARTA, TNK YOU SO MUCH. Reporter: NO PROBLEM.

>> IfillNEXT THE SITUATION IN ERICAN SAMOA, PARENT OF THE RELIEF EFFORT BEING COORDINATEBY THE AIR FORCE AND E NATIONAL GUARD FROM HICKAM FIELD IN HAWAII IN US BY TELEPHONE IS MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT LEE FROM THE WAII TIONAL GUARD WELCOME

>> ALOHA.

>> Ifill: YOU N GIVE US A SENSE THE CASUALTIES? NO, WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO REMOTE LOCATIONS IN AMERAN SAA. UNRTUNATELY, WE EXPECT THE ATH TOLL TO BE INCREASING. THAT'S WHY IS PARAMOUNT THAT WE GET OUR RELIEF SUPPLIES A RELIEF WORKEES, PRIMARILY MECS, SOME THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD AND OUR COMB COMMUNICATIONS QDRON SO THAT WE CANESTORE COMMUNICATIONS IN AMERICAN SAMOA.

>> Ifill: PRIDENT OBAMA TODAY DECLARED TS TO BE A MAJOR DISAST. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TMS OF WHAT KIND EFFORT THAT THE ITED STATES HAS TO PROVIDE, ESPECIALLY IN A RRITORY AS REMOTE AS AMERICAN SAMOA?

>> WELL, WITH E PRESIDENTIAL DECLATION, IT IS NOT ONLY THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD AT WILL BE HELPI OUT, BUT THE ARMY RESERVE,.S. ARMY... AND THE UNITED STATES NA AS DIRECTED BY UNITED ATES... THERE SHOULD BE A FRIG ATE EN ROUTE TO WA HELICOPTERTO HELP WITH THE SEARCH AND RESCUE, BH THAT THE ROAD TT TRAVERSES THE ISLAND IS CURRENTLY DAMAGED.

>> Ifill: HOW LO DOES THAT KE? AMERICAN SAM IS NOT EXACTLY NEXT DOOR TO HAWAII, SO FOR E FRIGATE TOET TO HAWAII--

>> IT WAS DIVERTED BY THE ITED STES NAVY, AND I JUST TALKED WITH... THE COMMANDEHE TELLS ME IT WILL BE THERE TODAY.

>> Ifill: TE ME HOW YOU GET YOUR IORMATION. I KNOW YOU SAID YOU JUST TALD TO THEOMMANDER. IT'S SO DIFFICULT RIGHT W WITH BOTH THESE NATURAL DISASRS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT IGOING ON AND WHAT THE EXTENIS OF THE DESTRUCTION. HOW ARE YOU GETTING THE INFORMATION?

>> THE COMMANDER OF THPACIFIC FLEET HAPPENS TO BIN PEARL HARBOR, HAWA. SO TS IS CLOSE. BUT OUR PEOPLE IT'S GROUND TRE THE AR RESERVE CENTER THAT WE HAVEEVERYTHING IS INTACT. WE HAVE POR, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE ESTABLHING COMMAND AND CONTROL. NOW, THE ME DIFFICULT PART IS TO GET OUREAMS OUT TO THE REMOTE AREAS. A LOT OF TIMESN FOOT AND HAVE THEM REPORT BACK.

>> Ifill: THERE ANY WAY TO KNOW AT THIS POINT HOW TS COARES TO THE ASIAN TSUNAMI WE ALL PAID SUCH CLOSE ATTENTIOTO FIVE YEARS AGO?

>> WELL, THANKFULLY,HIS IS, FROM A SEVERITY PERSPECTIVUN, NOT AS BAD AS E ARCHAND A INDONESIAN TSUNA BUT THIS IS STILPRETTY BAD.

>> Ifill: WE JUST HED A REPORT OF THE THE 15 OR 1MINUTES IT TOOK FOR NOTIFICATN TO BE PROCESSED. DO WE KNOW WHETH THAT TSUNAMI WAING WAS EFFECT 95 THIS CASE, OR AT LEAST IN GIVING PEOP A HEADS UP

>> I BELIEVE THE WAS JUST A SHORT WARNING. BECAUSE THIS OCCURD SO CLOSELY TO THE SAM ISLAND CHAIN, I N'T THINK THE PEOPLE HAD MOR THAN 20 TO 30 NUTES TIME FROM THE TIME OF THE EAHQUAKE UNTIL THE FIRST WAVE OF THE TSUNAM STARTED HITTING THE LAND. SO THAS AWFULLY A SHORT TIME, AND WHEREAS WE HAVE A TSAMI WARNING NEORK ESTABLISHED ROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC, AND TH AFFORDS THREST OF THE PACIFIC TO TRACK THE WAVES AND T ACTUALLYIME VERY ACCURATELY THE ARRIVAL TO HAWAII AND VARIOUS PORTIO OF THE PACIFIC RIM.

>> Ifill: WE KNOW THE RNING-- DO WE THINK ITORKED AS IT SHOULD THIS TIME?

>> WL, WE-- I LIKE TO PUT THIS IN HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE Y THE WARNING SYSTEM IS LOT BETTER TODAY THAN DURING THE INDONEAN EARTHQUA AND TSUNAMI. DURING THAT TIME, WE HAD ONL SEVEN SENSORS INEEP-OCEAN SENSRS INSTALLED THROUGHOUT E PACIFIC. TODAY HAVE 43, AND MANY OF THOSE DEEP-WER SENSORS ARE CONTRIBUTEBY OTHER NATIONS SIDES THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA-- FOR EXAMPLE, AUSALIA INDONESIA, THAILAND, ALL HE MADE CONTRIBUTNS SO THAT WE CAN LP EACH OTHER IN THIS INFORMATION AND EARLY-WAING NEORK SGLIRL SO AS BAD AS THIS IS LOOKING, YOU' THINKING IT COULD HA BEEN WORSE?

>> IT SURELYOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE, YES. Ifill: GENERAL LEE, THANK Y SO MUCH FOR JOING US.

>> THANK Y.

>> Lehrer: THE TNAMI ALERT SYST WORKED IN AMERICAN SAMOA ON O WEB SITE-- newshour.pbsrg AND FOLLOW A LINKO THE P.B.S. PROGRAM "NOVA" TO LEN HOW A TSUNAMI FORMS.

>> Lehr: IN OTHER NEWS TODAY: NATIONS ACROSS SOUTHEAST ASI COUND AT LEAST 331 PEOPLE DEAD AFTER ONE OF THE WST TYPHOONS IN YEARS. THE STORM WAS WNGRADED TO A TROPICAL DRESSION AS IT CROSSED INTO LAO BUT IT LEFT DEVASTATION IN THEHILIPPINES, VIETNAAND CAMBODIA. IN VTNAM, PARTS OF TWO PRINCES WERE CUT OFF BY FLOONG. AND ACROSS THE CENTRAL PAROF THE COUNTRY, NRLY 180,000 HOMES WERE DESTROY OR DAMAGED. MORE THAN 0,000 PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED FROM THETORM'S PATH. THE COMMANDER OF U.SFORCES IN IRAQ CALLED FOR FLEXIBILIT TODAY WITHDRAWING TROOPS OVER THE NEXT YEAR ARMY GENERAL RAY ODIER TOLD A U.S. HOUSEEARING THAT 4,000 TROOPS WILL AVE BY THE END OF TOBER. THAT'S EARLIER THAPLANNED. AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID U. OFFICIS SHOULD NOT FORGET ABOUT AQ, EVEN AS THEY SHIFT SOURCES TO AFGHANISTAN.

>> THE PLAN WEAVE, I BELIEVE, ALLOWS US TO WITHDRAW DELIBERATELY AND MAIAIN WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF SECURITY AT THE IRAQI SECURITY FORCES ULTIMATELYAN SUSTAIN AND CONTINUEO IMPROVE. THAT SAID WE WORK VERY CAREFULLY, I WORK VE CAREFULLY WITH GENERAL PETRAEUS IN OER TO IDENTIFY ANCAPABILITIES WE HAVE A NO LONGER NEED THAT CAN USED IN AFGHANISTAN.

>> Lehr: AMERICAN TROOPS ARE SET TO WITHDRAW COMPLETELY FM IRAQ BTHE END OF 2011. THE S. HOUSE HAS GIVEN FINAL APOVAL TO TRIPLING NON-MILITA AID TO PAKISTAN. THE BILLNCLUDES $1.5 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR THE NEXFIVE YEARS FOR ECONOMIC AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT WORK. THE GOAL IS TO COUNTER GRONG ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMEN THE SENATE AROVED THE MEASURE LAST WEEK. ITOW GOES TO THE PRESIDENT FOR SIGNATURE. E U.S. SUPREME COURT WILL HE A NEW CHALLENGE TO LOC BANS ON HANDGU. THCOURT AGREED TODAY TO COIDER THE ISSUE NEXT YEAR, IN A CASE FROM CHICAGO. LA YEAR, THE JUSTICES STRUCK DOWN A SIMAR BAN IN WASHINGTON D-C. THE CHICAGO SE COULD EXTEND AT DECISION TO LOCAL AND STA LAWS IN GENERAL. ON WALL STREET TODAY, STOC WEREP AND DOWN, BUT ENDED THE DAY WITH A LOSS. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIALVERAGE GAVE UP NEARLY 30 POINTSO CLOSE AT 912. THE NASDAQ FELL MORE THAN ON POINT TO CLOSE AT 2,122. AND STILL TO COME ON THE "NEWSHOUR" TONHT: BUILDING A NEW KIND OF HOUSE,ANGEROUS DRIVING, AND ENGAGINMYANMAR. THAT FOLLOWS OUR LOOK A NEW CLIMATE BILL. JEREY BROWN HAS THE STORY.

>> Bro: THE NEW PROPOSAL, PRESTED TODAY BY TWO SENATE DEMOATS-- BARBARA BOXER OF CALIFORNIA ANDOHN KERRY OF MASSACHUSETTS-- AIMS AT RBING CLIMATE CHANGEY LIMITING EMBRACES MY OF ITS GOAL WITH SO DIFFERENCES. AMONG ITS MANY PROVISIONS AR ASURES TO: CUT EMISSIONS BY 2PERCENT FROM 2005 LEVS BY THE YEAR 2020; CAP EMISSIONALLOWANCES FOR INDUSTRY; AND CRTE A MARKET FOR COMPANIES TO BUY ANDELL POLLUTION PERMITS. AND OFFER INCEIVES FOR NATURAL GAS D NUCLEAR POWER, AS WELL AS FOR SUSTAINABLE FARMI. SENATOR KERRY ID THERE WAS A FUNDAMENTAL REASON TACT SOON.

>> WE INTRODUCED THILEG BECAE OF ONE WORD: SECURITY. ECOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, NATIONAL SECITY. AMERICKNOWS THAT IS THE BATTLE WEACE RIGHT NOW, AND THE FACT IS THIS BILL PROVID THE ABILITY FOR AMERICTO GET BACK INTOHE DRIVER SEAT AND TO TAKE ARGE OF OUR FUTURE. WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO PU MILLIONS OF PEOP BACK INTO WORK LEADING THE WROLD IN T NEW ECONOMIC ERA CAN SAFEGUARD THE WATER WE DRINK THAIR WE BREATHE. WE CAN STABILIZE DANGEROUS IMATE.

>> Reporter: THE HOUSEASSED ITS OWN BI EARLIER THIS YEAR. TODAY, PREDENT OBAMA RENEWED HIS PLEDGE TO PASSING A NEW ENERGY LAW.

>> Brown: FOR MOREN THE BILL ANTHE POLITICAL CLIMATE SURROUNDING CLIME ISSUES, WE'RE JOINED BY JULIET EILRIN, NATIONAL ENVONMENTAL REPORTER R "THE WASHINGTON POST." WELCOM

>> THANKS.

>> Brown: IN SOME WAYS T SENATE PPOSAL GOES A LITTLE FUHER AND FASTER THAN THE HOUSE BILL, RIGHT?

>> YES, TERMS OF THE HOUSE BILL, AT THE END OF THDAY WOULD REDUCE ESSIONS IN 2020 17% BELOW 2005 LEVELS. THEY E UP IN THE SAME PLACE IN 20 BUT INITIALLY IT HAS A DEEPER CUT.

>> Bro: WHAT CELS NEW HERE? WH JUMPS OUT AT YOU AS THE KEY ISSUES THEY PUT RWARD

>> O OF THE SIGNIFICANT THINGS IS THEY' TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE COST CONTAINMENT. THERS A LOT OF ANXIETY AMONG BUSINESSES THAT THE PRICE OF THESE CARBONLLOWANCES THAT THEY'LL BE OBLIGAT TO BUY AND SELL COULD GET O OF CONTROL, SO IT HAS AT BARBARA BOXER DERIBES AS A SOFT-COLLAR IDE IF THE PRICE GOT MORTHAN $28 PER TON, THAT AT THAT INT, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD KP SOME OF THE ALLONCES IN RESERVE AND RELEE INTO THE MARKET TO ENSURE THE PCE WOULDN'T GO ABOVE TH, AND OVER TIME IT'S INDEXED TO A LITTLE BIT ABE THE RATE OINFLATION TO KIND OF BUMP IT UP A BIT.

>> Brown: ANOTHEKEY ISSUE, OF COUR, IS THE SO-CALLED EMISSION PERMI, RIGHT. HOW COANIES ARE ABLE TO GET THEM AND USE THEM

>> RIGHT AND IN A LOT OF WAYS, E LEGISLATION HANOT SPELLED OUT HOW IT'S GOINGO DEAL WITH SOME OF THIS, ANDHIS WILL BE THE EELING AND DEALING THAT THEYL HAVE IN TERMS OF NOT SAYING EXACTLY HOW MANY DIFFERENT INSTRIES WILL GET WHAT PERCENTAGE TH'LL GET. BUT AT IT DOES ENSURE BOTH THAT THERE WILL BEOME TO EASE E TRANSITION AND THERE WILL A FORM OF REBATES FOR PARTICULARLY ENERGINTENSIVE DUSTRIES, TRADE-SENSITIVE INDUSTRI TO TRY TO, AGAIN, ADDRESS THE CONCNS OF LAW ENFORCEMENTS WHO ARE W+çb ABOUT TH.

>> Lehrer: YOUUST USED THE EXPRSION "WHEELING AND DEALING." CLEARLY EVERYBODSEES THIS AS A STARTING POINT, PARTICULARLYN THSENATE.

>> THEAWMAKERS MADE THAT CLEAR. BOTH BOXER AND KERRY MADE E POINT THAT IT IS A STARTG POINT AND THEYERE IN DISCUSSION LATE YESTERDAWITH SOME OF THEICENTRIST MOCRATIC COLLEAGUES TRYING T BRING TH ON BOARD AND IT'S QUITE CLEAR THEYE GOING TO HAVEO CUT A FEW DEALS IF THEY'RGOING TO MOVE THIS LEGISLATION ALON

>> Brown: WE BOTH NOCED WHEN SENATOR KERRY USED THE WORD "SECURITY,THAT'S THE WAY EY'RE BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

>> THAT IS DEFINELY PART OF THR SALES PITCH. WHILE THEY KNOW THE SCIEE ON CLIMATE CHANGE EXIS AND IT MATTERS WHEN THEY TA ABOUT IT THEY'RE LKING ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC ISSUES, ECONOMIC SECURITY, NATIOL SERITY, AND THOSE ARE THE THGS THEY'RE FOCUSING ON RATH THAN TALKING ABOUT THE POTEIAL IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHGE OVER THE LONG TERM ON THE UNITED STATES AND HER PARTS OF THE WORLD. >>rown: THIS IS TO ADDRESS THE OBVIOUS CONCERNS, RIT, THAT PEOPLE BRING TTHIS? YES

>> AND THEVE BEEN VERY EXPLIT ABOUT THAT. NATOR KERRY SAID WHEN TRYING TO MOVE LEGIATION RIGHT NOW, WHETHER HEALTH CE LEGISLATION OR CMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION, YOU'VE G TO ADDRESS THE ECOMIC QUESTIONS THAT AMERANS AND LAWMAKERS ARE CONCNED ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

>> Brown: WHAT KINOF IMMEDIATE REACTION CAME TO THIS? THERE WEREO REPUBLICANS.

>> THAT WAS E THING THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT. THERWERE NO REPUBLICANS STANDING UTHERE ENDORSING THE BILL. THEY SAY IN THE COMING WEE THEY'RE PRTY CONFIDENT THEY CAN GET A FEW. ONOF THE MOST OBVIOUS ONES WOULD BE OLYMPIA SNOWEHO THE MOCRATS TURN TO TIME AND TIM AGAIN SHOW BIPARTISANSHIP. AND TENTIALLY MORE. IT WAS CERTAINLY CLEAR THEAST MAJORITY OF REPUBLANS CAME OUT AGAINST IT, INCLUDING NATOR JOHN McCAIN WHO S MADE CLIMATE CHANGE A HAMANDIYAH MA OF HIS CONGRESSIONAL CAER AND THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.

>> Brown: AND PEOPLE IN E BUSINESS COMMUNITY CLELY QUICKLY RAISED OBJECONS.

>> THERE WERE DEFINITELYOME WHO RAISED OECTIONS, PARTICULARLY THE ONEYOU WOULD IMAGINE WILL PAY THEIGHEST PRE-- OIL REFINERY INDUSTRIES, REPRESENTATIVES FROMOAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS. ON THE OTHER HD, THERE INTERESTINY HAS BEEN GROWING SUPPORT AMG THE BUSINESS COMMITY WITH THE IDEA THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TOIVE TH THIS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND THEY'D RATHER HAVE CONGRS DO THIS THAN, Y, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. SO DID YOU SEE SOMPROMINENT EMITRS SAY THEY'D RATHER HAVE THIS HAPPY TN THE ALTERNATIVE.

>> Brown: ON THE OTH SIDE, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS MOSTL SUPPORTIVE, NOT TOTAY, FROM THE OTHER END.

>> RIGHT.

>> Bro: NOT QUITE FAR ENOUGH

>> THERE WAS CTICISM, FOR EXAMPLE, A GROUPIKE GREENPEACE WHICH FES IT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. ON THETHER HAND OTHER YOU REALLY DID HAVE A NUMBER OTHE KIND OF MORE CENTRIST ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPSACKING THIS AGAIN, THIS IS T BEST DEAL EY THINK THEY CAN GET. Brown: THERE WAS ALSO ACTION TODAY SORT OF UPPI THE ANTE BY E E.P.A. TAKING A REGULATORY STEP.

>> THE E.P.A. ANNOCED TODAY THEY PUT OUT A PROPOSAL FO REGUTIONS THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY TARG THE SAME BIG EMITTERS OF GREEOUSE GASES THAT THEENATE BILL TARGETS-- THESE ARE EMTERS WHO PRODUCE ,000 TONS OR MORE A YEAR OF GREENHOUSEASES. AND WHAT TY'RE SAYING IS UNDER THE CLEAN AIACT, THEY WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEND THAT THESE EMITTERS, WH THEY'RE APPLYI FOR AN OPERATING PERMIT OR IF THEY'RE GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFY THEIR PNS THAT THEY INSTALL THBEST AILABLE TECHNOLOGY TO CONTRO THAT POLLUTION. AND AT'S REALLY INTERESTING DEVELOPMT, AND CERTAINLY HAS WIDE RAMIFICATIONS. >>rown: AND THE FACT THAT THEY DO IT ON THE SAME DATHIS PROPOSALOMES OUT, I MEAN, IS THAT READ ASOME KIND OF SIGNAL THAT THE PRESIDE, THE ADMINISTRAON WANTS TO PUSH TH FORWARD?

>> I THINK IDOES SEND A SIGNAL ANI THINK IT ALL UNDERSCORES THE REALITY ROIT NOWWHICH IS THE MINISTRATION HAS VARIOUS TOOLS AT ITS DIPEAL, AND IT'S HOPING CONGRESS ACTSBUT IF CORESS DOESN'T ACT THEY'RE PREPARED TO VE FORWARD ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> Brown: THE MINISTRATION ALSO HAS A L ON ITS AGENDA, NOTABLY HEALTH CARE. THE PRESIDENT CAME OUT TAY TO RENEW HUSBD CALL FOR ENERGY. SOME PEOPLE HAVE WONDED, RIGHT HOW STRONG THACOMMITMENT WAS GIVEN THE OTHER THINGSN HIS PLATE.

>> THEY DO WONR. ANTHERE ARE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF POLITICAL CHIT HE CAN USE, AND PEOPLE ARE WONDERI HOW AVILY CAN HE USE THAT FOR CLIMATE CHGE WHEN HE IS TAKING RISKS ON HEALTH RE. THAT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WATC

>> Brown: THE APPROACHING RGET IS THE INTERNATIONAL CONFEREE IN COPENHAGEN. TELL US ABT THAT, AND HOW THE U.S. LEGISLAON, OR AT LEAST THE PROCEDURES WRE LOOKING AT NOW, PLAY T

>> IN EARLTO MID-DECEMBER YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM MORE AN 180 COUNTRIES WHO ARE GOING MEET IN COPEN HAIG AND TROY TO FASHN A NEW INTERNATIONAL PACT ON GLOBAL WARMING, A THIS WILL REQUE COMMITMENTS FROM COUNIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD ON WHATHEY'RE GOING TO DO, AND EVERYONE IS REALLY EING THE UNITED STATES TO SEEHAT HAPPENS DOMESTICALLY BAUSE IT'S VERY CLEAR-- AND THE ADMINISTRAON HAS UNDERSCORED THIS THAT THEY'RE ONLY WILLING TO COMMIT INTERNIONALLY TO AT THEY HAVE SUPPORT FOR BAC HOME. IS IS BECAUSE WHEN THE CLINT ADMINISTRATION CMITTED-- SIGNEDN TO THE KYOTO CLIMATE PACT IN 1997 THEY UND VERY QUICKLY THAT THE WAS NOT THE DOMEIC SUPPORT.

>> Brown: D, BRIEFLY, IS IT REALISTITO THINK SOMETHING WILL PASS IN THE U.S. FORE COPENHAGEN

>> IT'S LESS LIKELY WE'LL GE METHING PASSED BY THE SENATE AND WHAT THEY'RE HOPING THEY CAN Y WE'RE MOVING ON. THP WORE SINCERE A WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON O PROMISE ON GLOBAL WARMIN >>rown: JULIET EILPERIN FROM THE "WASHINGTON PO," THANK YOU.

>> Lehrer: NOW, ANHER IN OUR SERIES ON INNOVATION IN A TI OF RECESSION. TONIGHT, A BLUEPRI THAT REDUCES THE CARBON FOOTPRI. "NEWSHOUR" CORREONDENT M BEARDEN HAS OUR SCIENCE UN STORY. >>eporter: AT FIRST GLANCE, THIS CONSTRUCTION SITE IN EASTERN MONTANA LOOKMORE LIKE A GARBAGDUMP THAN A NEW HOME BEING ILT-- STACKS OF OLD TIRES, HUNDREDS OF ETY BOTTLES AND ALUMINUM CANS. BUT TO MIKE REYNOL, IT'S A THING OF BEAUTY. AN ARCTECT BY TRAINING, HE HAS ENT HIS LIFE DEVELOPING ALMO COMPTELY SELF-SUFFICIENT HOMES HE CALLS EARTHIPS. CONNECTIONS TO THE ELECTRIC ID. WATER LINE. NO SEWER

>> SO WE HAVE A BUILDINGHAT WILL HAVE A GUARANTEED ULITY BI-- ANNUAL UTILITY BILL OF SS THAN $100.. GUARANTEED ANNUAL TOTAL UTILITYSAGE, POWER, WATER, SEWA. AND THAT SPEAKS FOR ONE E ECONOMY OF RNING THE BUILDING, BUT MORE TN THAT IT AFFECTS THE LIFEOUCH THAT IT HAS ON THE PLET.

>> Reporter:ISCARDED TIRES ARE TIGHTLY PACKED WITH DIRT AND STACKED IN A UHAPE. SPACESN BETWEEN ARE STUFFED WITHANS AND BOTTLES AND CEMENT. WHEN T WALL IS FINISHED, IT'S COVERED TH DIRT.

>> THE RATIOLE THERE IS THAT ONE: WE HAVE SO CH OF THESE TERIALS, BOTTLES, CANS AND RES THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT DO WITH EM. TH'RE FILLING THE MUNICIPAL LANDFIS. WE HAVE MORE TIRES ON IS PLANET THAN WE HAVE TREES. SO WE'RE TRYG TO USE THE PRODUCTS THAT WE DON KNOW WHAT TO DWITH RATHER THAN THE PRODUCTS THAWE REALLY DESPERATELY ED FOR LIFE ON THIS PLANET. TO C DOWN TREES IS RIDICULOUS WHEN YOU CAN BUILD WITTIRES. THE OPENND OF THE "U" WILL BE CLOSED OFF WITH A ASS WALL, WHICMUST FACE SOUTH, BECAUSE EARTHSHI ARE DESIGNED TO USE SOLAR ENERGYOR HEATING. REYNOLDS SAYS E DESIGN KEEPS AN EARTHSHIP'S INTERIOAROUND 70 DREES REGARDLESS WHETHER IT'S 115 OUTSIDE OR 20ELOW WITHOUT HEATG OR AIR CONDITIONING.

>> THE WARMTOF THE INTERIOR SPACE COMES FROM THEUN OBVIOUY, COMING IN FROM THE SOUTH. NOW IN THE SUMMERTIME THE N'S MUCH HIGHER IN THE SKY A THE OVERHANG IS TTLED UP SO THAT THE SPACES REMAIN SHAD. SO WRE TRACKING THE ANGLE OF THE SUN SO THAT IN THEUMMER THOSE ACES ARE SUPER COOL AND IN THEINTER THEY'RE SUPER WARM.

>> Reporr: REYNOLDS HAS BUILT A OLE SUBDIVISION OF EARTHSHI IN THE DESERT NORTHWEST OF TAOS,EW MEXICO. MOST SHAREHE SAME BASIC ELEMENTS: RAINROVIDES WATER. THE METAL ROOF CATCHES REAL CLEAN WAR AND IT RUNS DOWN TO A GUTTER WHICH THEN FUELS THE WATEINTO THIS BANK OF CISTNS. EY'RE ALL... THEY TOTAL UP T 6,000 GALLONS OF WER.

>> Reporter: THE STORED TER IS FILTEREDTHEN PIPED TO SINKS FOR DRINNG. WASTE WATEFROM THE SINKS, CALLED GRAY WATER,S DIRECTED TO A GREENHOUSE JUSTNSIDE THE GLASWALL, WHERE IT IS NATURALLY FILTER AGAIN. THATATER SUPPLIES THE TOILETS. THRESULTING EFFLUENT, NOW CALLED BLACK WATER, IS PED TO A CONVENTIONAL SEPTIC TANK OUTSIDE. SOR PANELS POWER L-VOLTAGE LIGHTINGURING THE DAY, AND ALSO CHARGE LEADCID BATTERIES, WHICH POWER THLIGHTS AT NIGHT. COOKING ISONE WITH PROPANE DELIRED FROM A LOCAL SUPPLIER. REYNOLDS AND HIS TEAM HAVE BLT EARTHSPS ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND HE SAYS THDESIGN HAS PROVEN ITSELF IN EVERY ST OF CLIMATE. REYNOLDSDMITS HE IGNORED LOCAL BUILDING CODESN THE EARLY DAYS OF HIS SUBDIVISION, ANCONCEDES THAT SOMOF THE HOUSES DIDN'T WORK AS WELL AS ADVERTISED. HE'S BN SUED BY UNHAPPY HOMENERS. IN THE LE 90s, THE COUNTY BUDING DEPARTMENT SHUT DOWN THE OLE PROJECT, CALLING IT AN "ILLEGAL SUBDIVISION," BECSE IT DIDN'T COMPLY WITH LOCAL CODES. AND REYNOLDS LOST HIS ARCHECTURAL LICENSE. SO HE WENT TO THE NEW MEXICO ATE LEGISLATURE.

>> WE FIRSFOUGHT THE BUILDING CODES AND LOST YOU KNOW, AND WE TRIED TJUST DISOBEY THEM ANDOST AND THEN... SO WE LEARNED FROM TT. SO RATHER AN FIGHTING, I TRIED TO GO THROUGTHE LEGISLATIVE PROCESWHICH ITSELF WAS A BATTLE AND IT-- SOMETIMES DISGUSTING BATTLE BUT I D SEE THAT THAT'S POSSIBLE. I CAN CHANGEAWS. I CACHANGE LEGISLATION, BUT IT BUT IT TAKESOREVER. IT TOOFOUR YEARS TO GET ONE LAW ON THE BOOKS WHI WE'RE ACTUALLY USING NOW.

>> Rorter: THIS NEW STATE LAW ALLOWS REYNOLDS TOEGALLY BUILD HIS EARTHSPS AND EXPERIMENT WI NEW DESIGNS IN YET-TO-BE DEGNATED DEVELOPMENTS. AND HIS TAOS SUBDIVIN, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 60 HES, NOW HAS THE COUNTY BUIING DEPARTNT'S BLESSING. EVEN THOUGH THEYE BUILT FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS, EARTHIPS DON'T COME CHEAP. THE HOUSE IN MTANA WILL COST ABOUT $350,000. REOLDS ALSO SELLS PLANS FOR PEOPLE WHOANT TO BUILD THEIR OWN EARTHSHIP, WHI CAN REDUCE THE PRICE DRASTILLY BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPLYING THE LABOR. THE DUKE FILY ARE AMONG THOSE WHO CHOSE TO DO THE WORK THEMSELV. TOM DU, HIS WIFE, AND TWO BOYS HAVE BEEN LING IN THIS ONE BEDROOM EARTHSHIFOR MORE THAN 10 YEA. A ACHER IN THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL, DUKE SAYS E HOUSE PROVIDES H WITH ALL THE CONVENTIONAL COMFORTS.

>> YH, YOU CAN HAVE A TELEVISION SET, DEO MACHINES, DISHSHER, LAUNDRY. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU CADO OFF A REGUR SYSTEM, YOU CAN DO OFF A SOLAR STEM. YOU JUST HE TO BE AWARE OF YBE APPLIANCES THAT WOULD DRAIN IT TOO MUCH. Reporter: HAVE YOU EVER DRAINED YO BATTERIES?

>> WE HAVE CONSETIVE CLOUDY DAYSYOUR POWER CAN GET A LITTLE LOW. MAYBE HAPPENONCE EVERY TWO YES. WE HAVE TO REALLY WAH IT AND

>> Reporter: THE ONLY OUIDE INPUT IS ABOUT $100 A YEAR F OPANE FOR THE STOVE. LONG TIME RESIDENT ANDRCHITECT IX HENRY IS CURRENTLY BUILDI AN ADDITION HER EARTHSHIP TO MAKE MORE ROOM FOR HER FAMY. SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH REYNDS SINCTHE EARLY DAYS

>> I THINK IT'S FUNDAMENLLY CHANGED ME, BUT I N'T THINK THAT I.. I CHANGED MY LIFE. WE LIVE LIKE A NORMAL FALY WITH MORE AWENESS OF KIND OF THE MITS ON THINGS, I GUESS, SO LIKE WE KNOW HOW. HOW MUCH IT'S RAING AND THEREFORE HOW MUCH WATER WE HAVE OR HOW MUCH... HOW SUY IT'S BEEN FOR A WEEK FOR ITANCE AND IF IT SN'T BEEN, THEN WE'LL ADJUST OUR LIFE. >>eporter: REYNOLDS IS STILL DEVELOPING THE ETHSHIP DESIGN EVEN THOUGH HE CAME UP WH THE ORIGINAL CONCEPTS ARLY 40 YEARS AGO. HE CALLSHIS HOUSE "THE PHOENI-- SYMBOLIC OF HIS ONCE ILLEL SUBDIVISION RISING FROM THE ASHES.

>> HALTHE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF IS 6,000 SQUARE FOOT HOME IS DEVOTED TO FOOD PRUCTION, THAT BEING FRUITSND VEGETABLES AND TILAPIA, FISH. ANTO... SO THE EFFORT HERE IS ILLUSTRATE THAT THIS BUILDI COULD TAKE A FILY OF FOUR AND WITHOUT ANY UTITY, INPUT OR 18 WHEELER LIVERIES OR ANYTHING-- KEEP THEM ALIVE AND AT'S A... THAT'S A ZERO CARBONOOTPRINT ESSENTIALLY.

>> Reporte THE THREE BEDROOM PHOEX IS LISTED AT $1.2 LLION. ULTIMATELY, HEHINKS EARTHSHIP- LI HOMES ARE VITAL TO SUSTAINING THE PNET.

>> ENGINEERS WE IN HERE. HE SAID "WELL, WHAT THE WOD NEEDS... NEEDS NOW IS 1 BILLN OF THESE IMMEDIATELY." THAT WAS..THAT WAS IT RIGHT THERE. I ID, "THAT'S COMI FROM AN ENGINEER, THATORKS FOR ME." THAT MEANS THAT 'RE ON THE GHT TRACK.

>> Reporr: REYNOLDS WANTS TO MAKE THE EARTHSHIPS MORE AFFORDABLE BY ESTABLISNG A COMMUNY WHERE PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE THEIR LAB IN RETURN FOR HOING. HE HOPES TO HAVE THAT OJECT OPERATIONAL WITHIN THEEXT AR.

>> Lehre YOU CAN SEE PHOTOS OF EARTHSHI ON OUR WEB SITE newshour.pbs.org >>ehrer: NEXT TONIGHT, THE DANGERS OF DISACTED DRIVING AND W GOVERNMENT WARNINGS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. RAY SUAREZ HAS T STORY.

>> Reporter: TANIAOURBONNAIS IS A PROFESSIONAL RACE CAR DRIVER AND PERFORMANCE DRING HOOL INSTRUCTOR-- TAKING 16- YEAR-OLD MARAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDEN THROUGH A TEST COURSE MEANT TOLERT THEM TO THE DANGERS MULTI-TASKING BEHIND E WHEEL. THE STUDENT'S ABILITY TO KEE THEIR CAR INSIDE THE CONESS QUICKLY D DRAMATICALLY... DIMINISHED BY THE DEMANDS OF USING A CELL PHONE, OR WHAT' COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS DISTRACTED DRIVI. AFTERWARD, THE GIR EACH ADMITTED THEY'D OVER-EIMATED THEIR DRIVINWHILE-TEXTING SKILLS.

>> YEAH, I ACTUALLY DID UNTII TRIED. SHE ASKED ME TO TEXT "WEOME TO THE STADIUM," ANALL I WAS TEXTING WAS NUMBS.

>> YEAH, ACTUALLY, I D THINK I WAS BEER BEFORE, BUT I GUESS NOT. ( LAUGHS )

>> Reporter:AFETY OFFICIALS FROM FORD TOR COMPANY, WHICH SPONSORED THE EVT, SAY THE NGER IS VERY REAL. UIS TIJERINA IS SENIOR TECHNICAL ECIALIST WITH FORD.

>> PEOE SPEED, PEOPLE TAILGAITE, WEAVE IN AND OUOF TRAFFIC, PEOPLE TRY BEAT THE RED. EVEN WITH ALL THAT, THERE RESEARCH INDICATES A3 FOLD INCREASE IN RISK WHEN TEXTG,

>> Reporter: CONSERVIVE ESTIMATES SH THAT AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, SOME ONEILLION DRIVERS ARE TALKING ON CELL PHONES, D OF THAT GROUP, AUT ONE-QUARTER TEXT. LAST YEAR NEAR 6,000 PEOPLE DIED IN ACCIDENTS LINKEDO DISTCTED DRIVING. OTHER HALF-MILLION WERE INJURED. THOSE STATISTI WERE CITED BY OFCIALS TODAY. AS THE U.S. DEPAMENT OF TRANORTATION OPENED A TWO-DAY SUMMIT ON THE SUBJECT IN WASHINGTON. TRANSPORTATI RAY LaHOOD SAID THE PROBLEM D REACHED ALARMING PROPORTIONS.

>> EVERY SGLE TIME YOU TAKE YOUR ES OFF THE ROAD OR TALK ON THE PHONE WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING,VEN FOR JUST A FEW SECONDS,OU PUT YOUR LIFE IN DANGER, AND YOU T OTHER LIVES IN DANGER ALSO.

>> Reporte SEVEN STATES AND THE DISTRICT OCOLUMBIA BAN HAND-HELCELL PHONE USE. TEXT MESSAGING IBANNED IN 18 STATES, AND THE DISTRICTF COLUMBIA. BO CHAMBERS OF THE UNITED STATESONGRESS ARE NOW CONSIDERING TOUGHER LAWSANNING OR CURTAING DRIVER CELL PHONE USE. A PRESS CONFERENCE DURING

>> THE FST THING THE TRUCK DRIVER DID ADMIT WHEN HE GOTUT OF THE CAR IS HEAS TALKING ON THE CELLHONE. HE WAS NOT TTING. HE WAS NOTIALING. WAS NOT LOOKING FOR HIS PHONE. HE WAS HAVING A CONVERSATI. THIS CONVERSATION S LESS THAN A MINUTE LONG. WAS DRIVING FOR LESS THAN A QUARTERAVE MILE. THE ACDENT HAPPENED AT 4:43 P.M., AND AT 75 P.M., MY MOTHER WASRONOUNCED DEAD.

>> Reporr: CONCERN IS AL GROWININTERNATIONALLY. IN ENGLAND, TH GOVERNMENT- PRUCED PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT HASOTTEN PLENTY ATTENTION FOR ITS GRAPHIC RTAYAL OF THE DANGERS OF TEXTING.

>> Reporter: BACK IN TS COUNTRY, U.S. TOMAKERS HAVEúy ALSO WEIGHED IN,RGING WIDER USE OF HANDS-FREE DEVICE SOME SAFETEXPERTS INSIST THAT HAS-FREE UNITS DO LITTLE TO IMPROVE SAFETY FORD'S SAFETY DIREOR JIM VONDALE SAYS THE AUTOMER FAVORS A TOT BAN ON TEXTING, BUT WORRIES THAT ELIMINATINGLL CELL PHONE USE BEHIND THE WHL ISOT REALISTIC

>> I THI THE HISTORY HAS BEEN THAT IN STATES THAT PASS BANS ONAND HELD CELL PHONES. ORIGINAL, THERE WAS COMPLIANCE AND THEN AS ME WENT ON PEOPLE STARTED GOING BACK TTHEIR OLD BEHAVIOR, SO WE THK IT LOGICAL THAT IN ORDER TO HP SUPPORT THESE BANS WE SHLD OFFER SOME SAFER ALTEATIVE TO PEOPLE AND THE COMBINATION OF THE T IS

>> Repter: THE AUTOMAKER IS OMOTING A LINE OF HAND-FREE DEVIS IN ITS NEWER MODELS, SAYI A COMBINATION OF NEW LAWS AND NEW TECHNOLOGY ITHE KEY, BUT DRIVING INRUCTOR TANIA BOURBONNAIS SAYS LAWS THOSE CITIES WITH QUICAND SEVERE PENAIES HAVE SHARPLY REDUCED ABUSE OF CELL PHONES BY DRIVS

>> I LIVE INONTREAL AND THE E OF HANDHELD CELL PHONES ARE BANNED ALREADY. YOUR CAR WILL ETTY MUCH GET CONFISCATED IFHEY CATCH YOU WITH IT. THEYAVE US A FEW MONTHS GRACE PERI WHERE YOU GET WARNINGS, AND THEN IT IS PTTY STRICT POLICY NOW THAT IF YOU HAVHAD ONE WARNING YOU LO YOUR PRIVILEGE OFRIVING, PAY A HEAVY FINER GET YOUR CAR CONFISTED. SPOKE WITH TRANSPORTATION SECRARY RAY LaHOOD ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S CONCERNS THIS AFTERNOON. THIS MORNI DURING YOUR TALK, YOU TALKED ABOUT DISTRACTED DRIVING BEING AN EDEMIC AND A NACE TO SOCIETY. THOSE ARE PRETTY UNEQUIVOC TES FOR SOMETHING THAT MILLIONS OF AMERICANS DO REGULARLY AND PRABLY THINK THEY'VE GOT UNDECONTROL

>> TEXTING WHILE DRIVING IA NACE. IT'S OUT OF CONTROL. AND IT'S AT EPIDEMICROPORTIONS IN AMECA. ERE'S JUST NO OTHER WAY TO P IT, D IF YOU-- IF THE FOLKS THAT ARE WATCHING TH INTERVIEW WOULD HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUTY TO LISTEN TO T FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE W LOST LOVED ONES BECAUSE SOMEBODY WASEXTING WHILDRIVING, IT WILL BREAK YOUR HEART.

>> IT UNDS LIKE YOU'RE TALKING WITH A SENSE OF URNCY, BUT EN WE HAD A LOT OF OF STATISTICSND WE EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH DRIVINGITHOUT A SAFETY BELT, DRING WHILE IMPAIREDY ALCOHOL, DIDN'T IT TAKE A LONG TIME BEFORE TH CULTURE CHANGED IN A WAYHAT ANGED THE WAY PEOPLE LOOKED IVING?

>> THE TWOXAMPLES THAT YOU GIVE ARE THE ONES THAT ALSO E. .08 NOW IS THE NIONAL STANDARD AND WH ANYONE SEES IT THEY KN WHAT IT MEANS. THEY KW IT MEANS IF YOU'RE OVER . YOU'RE GOING TO BE ARRESTED AND YOU'RE GOINTO LOSE YOUR DRIVG PRIVILEGES AND U MAY GO TO JAIL. D PEOPLE ALSO KNOW IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR ST BELT ON, THEY'RE LIKELY IF THEYE IN AN ACCIDENT TO HAVE AINJURY OR MAYBE LOSS OF LIFE. SO THOSE TWO PROGRAMHAVE WORKED, AND WE'RE GOING TAKE THAT MOD EXPEL RLICATE IT FOR THE EA THAT WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING AND XTING, IT'S A HUGE DISTRACTIOTHAT CAN CAUSE INJURYND DEATH.

>> THIS MOING DUR YURG ADDRESS YOU SAID YOU C'T LEGISLATE BEHAVIOR. BUT THE VICTIMS YOALSO MEIONED, THE PEOPLE WHO LOST LOVED ONES TO DISTRAED DRIVING CALLED FOR-- ANDOME OF YOUR EXPERTS CALLED FOR-- TOU LESLATION TO BAN THE USE OF CELL PHONES AND THINGSHAT TAKE YOUR ES OFF THE ROAD INSIDE THE CAR. YOU MENTIONETHERE AREN'T ENGH COPS. BUT RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT KD OF A PATCHWORK OF LAWS

>> WE KNOW NATIONAL GISLATION DOESORK. WE KNOW THATT WORKED WITH .08 AND WE CONTINUWORKED WITH "CLICK IT OR TICKET," ICH REQUIRED PEOPLE TO WEAR AT BELTS. WE'RE GOING TO WORWITH CORESSEE WE HAVE FOUR SENATORS COMING TO THIS CONFENCE, AND YEAR GOING TO RK WITH THEM AND ANY MEMBER OF CONGRESSHO WANTS TO HELP US. WE'LL DEFINE THE PROBLEM. WE'LKNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WHEN WE LEAVE THIS HOT. T WE NEED TO WORK WITH CONGRESS ON WHAT IS E SOLUTION

>> YOU NEED E CAR COMPANIES AND THE INRANCE COMPANIES, TOO RIGHT?

>> THE CAR COMPANIES A INSURANCE COMPANIES ARON BOARD. WE'VTALKED TO THEM. THEY KNOW THIS IS A SERIOUS ISE, AND PARTICULARLY THE SURANCE COMPANIES. THEY KNOW THE GE COST OF INRIES AND DEATH THAT ARE CAUSED BY DRIVING WHILTEXTING. AND WE WON'T HAVE REQUEST AN TROUBLE GEING THE INSURANCE COMPANY EXPTSS CAR MANACTURERS ON BOARD ON IS. THEY KNOW THISS IN THER THEIR BEST INTEREST,LSO.

>> Reporter: ADMINISTRATN OFCIALS ARE EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCEPECIFIC NEW STEPS THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKEGAINST DANGEROUS CELL PHONE USE ATHE CLOSOF SUMMIT TOMORROW.

>> Lehrer: WE'VEOLLECTED STORIES ABOUT E VARIOUS STATE LAWS PROBITING TEXTING AND TALKING CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING. THE REPORTS COME FROOUR P.B.S. COLLEAGUES A YOU CAN FIND THEM ONUR WEB SITE-- newshour.pbs.org. FINAY TONIGHT, THE U.S. CHANGES COURSE ODEALING WITH AN ASIAN DICTATORSHIP. MARGARET WARNER HAS THE STY.

>> Warne THE U.S. HAS BE ESTRAND FROM MYANMAR SINCE 88, WHEN THE MILITARY UNLEASHEBLOODY REPRISALS AGAINSPRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATORAND STAGED A COUP. THOUSAS WERE REPORTED KILLED. SINCE TH, THE NATION-- ALSO OWN AS BURMA-- HAS SLID DEEP INTO REPRESSN AND ISOLATION FROM THE WEST. BUT AT T U.N. LAST WEEK, AFTER A MONTHS-LONG REVIEW, SECRETY OFTATE HILLARY CLINTON SIGNALED THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WASONSIDERING A SHIFT IN POLICY. WE BELIEVE THAT SANCTIONS REIN IMPORTANT AS PART OF OUR POLICY, BUT BY THEMSELVES,HEY HAVE NOT PRODUCED THRESULTS THAT HADEEN HOPED FOR ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF RMA. GAGEMENT VERSUS SANCTIONS IS FALSE CHOICE, IN O OPINION. SO GOING FORRD, WE WILL BE EMPLOYG BOTH OF THOSE TOOLS, PURSUING OURAME GOALS.

>> Wner: ON MONDAY, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATEURT CAMPBELL MADE IT OFFICIAL.

>> FORHE FIRST TIME IN MEMORY, THE RMESE LEADERSHIP HAS SHOWN AN INTEREST IN ENGING WITH THE UNITED STATES, A WE INTEND TO EXORE THAT INTEREST.

>> Warner: YET IT REMAINS UNCLEAR JU HOW FAR MNMAR'S RULERS-- A RECLUSIVE GROUPF GENERALS-- ARE WILLINGO GO. AS RECENTLY AS 27, THEY CARRIED OUT A VIOLENT W CRACKDOWN, AS PROTTING BUDDST MONKS WERE BEATEN IN THE STREETS. THE LEADING OPPOTION FIGURE, NOBEL PRE WINNER AUNG SAN SUU I, REMAINS UNDER HOUSE ARRES U.S. ANDUROPEAN SANCTIONS HAN'T HINDERED MYANMAR'S BUSTNG TRADE IN ENERGY AND RAW MARIALS WITH NEIGHBORS LIKE CHINA, IND AND THAILAND. TH SUMMER, THE U.S. TRACKED THIS NORTHOREAN SHIP SUSPECTED OF CARRYING BANNEDEAPONS CARGO TO MYANMARUNTIL IT TURNED CK. ANTHOUGH VIDEO FILMED SURREPTITISLY DURING LAST YEAR'S CYCLONEHOWED DESPERATE POVERTY AND DESPAIR, ITOOK MENSE INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE TO GETHE REGIME TO LET HUMANITARIAN A INTO THE COUNTRY. THE ADMINISTRATION SS IT WILL BOOSHUMANITARIAN AID, BUT TAIN SANCTIONS FOR NOW, WHIL TALKING WITH THEEGIME. NOT SURPRISINGLY, EVENHIS LIMITED OPENING IS STIING SOME CONCERN. SENATE MAJORY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL, CO-AUTHORF THE U.S. SANCTIONS BILL AGAINST MYANM, REACTED SKEPTICALLY DAY.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE F THUGS REGIMES LEFT IN THWORLD. MY REACTION TO EFFORT TO EAGE WITH THIS REGIME, AS LG AS WE MAINTAIN THE SANCTIONS A CONTINUE TO RK TO BROADEN THE SANCTIONS, IF SECRETARY INTON OR THE OTHS WANT TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH THE I SUPPOSE THAT IT'S OKAY BUT I ULD NOT WANT TO SIGNAL TH REGIME THAT WE'RE WILLING TO STEP BA FROM SANCTIONS.

>> THERE IS SUGGESTION THAT ARE PREPARED IN ANY WAY TO LIFT SANCTIO. THERE HAS TO BE CREDIBLEORWARD STEPS ON THE GROUND AND WE HE EN NO SUCH STEPS IN THE CURRENT VIRONMENT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD IA POSITIVE WAY.

>> Reporter: ASSTANT SECRETARY STATE CAMPBELL SAYS-- GIVEN BURMA'S TEREST IN A DIALOGUE-- ERE COULD BE POTENTIAL BENEFITS.

>> IF WE CAN IMPRO CONDITIONS INSIDE THE COUNTRY, IF WCAN GEGREATER FREEDOM FOR OPPOSITION GROUPTO PARTICIPATE LITICALLY, IF WE CAN GET AN END TO HTILITIES WITH SOME OF THE HNIC GROUPS, IF WE CAN GET BURMA TO CONTINUE TO PY A POSITIVE ROLE IN ILEMENTING U.N. SANCTIO AGAINST NORTH KOREA, THEI THINK IT WILL HAVE BEEN WORTHWHILE.

>> I WOULD SAY THERE IS SS THAN A 50% CHANCE TH JUST TALKING TO THE REGIME GOING TO WORK.

>> Warner: JEREMY WOODRU CO- FOUNDER THE PRO-DEMOCRACY U.S. COALITION FOR BMA, AGREES AFTER TWO DECADES OFSOLATING BURMA, IT'S TIMEO TRY SOMETHING ELSE BUT HAS A WARNING.

>> THE BURMESE REGIME WILLRY TO FUS ON ISSUES APART FROM A ANGE OR TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA. THEY WL TRY TO COOPERATE WITH E U.S. ANTI-NARCOTICS, ANTI- TERRORISISSUES AND IN OTHER ISSUES IN WAY THAT DISTRACT OR COULD DISTRACT THE U.SFROM THE UNDERLNG GOAL OFROMOTING DEMOCRACY ANHUMAN RIGHTS INSIDE BURMA.

>> Warner: CAMPBELL SA AT HIS FIT MEETING WITH THE BURMESE IN NEW YORK YESTERDAY, T U.S. WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR ABOUT S FOS.

>> WE D SOME VERY SPECIFIC POINTS THAT WANTED TO RAISE ON ALL THE ISSUES TH YOU CAN IMAGINE-- ON AUNN SUSYU CHI, ON THE 201ELECTIONS, ON PROLIFERATION CONCERNS-- SO WERE VERY CLEAR IN OUR MEENG WI THEM WHAT OUR APPROACH WILL BE TO THIS DIALOGUE.

>> Warner: WHEN CAMPBELLENT TO BY A GRO OF BUDDHIST MONKS AND Warner: WHEN CAMPBELL WENT CAPITOL HILL TODAY, HE WASET

>> DEMOCRATIC SENATOJIM WEBB SUPPORTED THE ADMINIRATION'S MOVE

>> I BELIEVEHIS REDIRECTION IS TIMELY

>> WEBB, WHO TRALED TO MYANMAR THIS PAST SUMMER HAS BEE PRESSING FOR GREATER ENGAGE

>> BELIEVE THE POLITICAL MOTITION BEHIND OUR ISOLATION OFURMA WERE HONORABLE. BASED A DESIRE TO SEE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND A RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INSE THAT COUNTRY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE SITUATN WE FACE WITH BURMA IAN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAEN WHEN WE SEEK TOSOLATE A COUNTRY FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD BUTHE REST OF THE WORLD DOES NOFOLLOW

>> THROUGH DIRECT DIALOGUEWE WILL BE ABLE TO TEST THE INTENTIO OF THE BURMESE LEADERSHIP AND THE SINRITY OF THEIR EXPRSED INTEREST IN A MOREOSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STES. THE WAY FORWARD LL BE CLEARLY TIED TO CONCRETECTIONS ON THE GROUND. WE WILL RESERVE THE OPTI OF TIGHTENING SANCTNS ON THE REGIME AND ITS SUPPORTERTO RESPOND TO EVENTS INURMA. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MOST OF THE PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST THK IT WILL TAKE TO BRING REAL CHANGE TO MYANMAR.

>> Lrer: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DELOPMENTS OF THE DAY: OFFIALS IN AMERICAN SAMOA AND WESTERN INDONESIA REPORTED AT LEAST 200 DEAD AFTER UNDERA EARTHQUAKES ANA TSUNAMI. AND E COMMANDER OF U.S. FORCES IN IRAQ TOLD CONGRESS AT 4,000 U.S. TROOPS ARE LEAVING AQ SOONER THAN PECTED. newshour.pbs.org, AN ONLINE ONLY FEARE TONIGHT. YOCAN SEE HOW THE ECONOMIC MELTDOWN HAS AECTED COMMUNITIES ROSS THE COUNTRY. OUR PATCHWORK NAON "HARDSHIP INX" INCLUDES UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES, FORECSURE RATES, AND S PRICES. 'LL SEE YOU -LINE, AND AGAIN HERE TOMORR EVENING. I'M JIM LEHRER. ANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT. MAJOR NDING FOR THE NEWSHOUR WITH JIM LEHRER IS PRODED BY:

>> WHAT E WORLD NEEDS NOW IS ENERGY. THE ENERGY TO GET THECONOMY HUMMING AGAIN. THE ENERGY TO TACKLE CLLENGES LIKE CLITE CHANGE. WHAT IS TH ENERGY CAME FROM AN ENERGY COMPANY? EVERYD, CHEVRON INVESTS $62 MILLION IN PEOPLE, IN IDEAS-- SEEKING, TEACHING, BUIING. FUELING GRTH AROUND THE WORLD TOOVE US ALL AHEAD THIS IS THE WER OF HUMAN ENERGY. CHEVRON.

>> THIS IS THE ENGINTHAT CONNECTS ABUANT GRAIN FROM THE AMERICAN HEARTLAND TO HARAN' BEST SELLING WHE, WHILE KEING 60 BILLION POUNDS OF CARBON OUT OF THE ATMOHERE EVERYEAR. BNSF, THE ENGINE THAT CONNECTS US. INTEL.

>> AND BY WES FARGO ADVISORS. TOGETHER, WE'LL GO FAR. THE TIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. SUPPORNG EDUCATION AND RESECH ACROSS ALL FIELDS OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEER AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPO OF THESE INSTITIONS AND FOUNDATIS. AND. THIS PROGRAMAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORRATION FOR BLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. Captioning sponsored MacNEIL/LEHRER ODUCTIONS aptioned by Media Accs Group at WGBH ccess.wgbh.org sturbed. I can't go back. Hey. Yeah. [ LAUGHS