Terms of use . Sponsors were optimistic the bill would finally become law this year. A vote is scheduled later today on the bill, which passed overwhelmingly last year but never made it out of the Senate. Supporters said it would supplement Social Security just as 76 million baby boomers begin to retire and boost a U.S. savings rate that is at its lowest level in 67 years. Members include both Republicans and Democrats who favor partially privatizing the federal retirement plan.
Democratic leaders oppose that idea.
The White House is searching for a new FBI director following Louis Freeh's decision to retire next month. His successor will inherit a bureau recently beset by allegations that one of its own spied for Moscow and under scrutiny for its own security practices. During Freeh's eight years on the job he bolstered the bureau's ranks and enhanced its influence worldwide. Freeh's tenure, however, was tainted by the recent arrest of Robert Hanssen, a senior FBI counterintelligence agent alleged to have passed U.S. secrets to Moscow for 15 years. The technical experts from Lockheed Martin Corp., maker of the EP-3E Aries II aircraft, planned to return for a second day of work tomorrow.