The Lower House plenary session began deliberations Wednesday on two bills that would enable the Self-Defense Forces to provide rear-area support to U.S.-led military forces in the campaign against terrorism.

The bills were drafted by the government following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

One would allow the SDF to engage in search-and-rescue activities and provide humanitarian relief to refugees. The other would enable the SDF to guard its own facilities and U.S. military bases in Japan.