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[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
REPRESENTATIVES.
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
THE HOUSE WILL BE
IN ORDER.
THE PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED BY
OUR CHAPLAIN, FATHER COUGHLIN.
CHAPLAIN COUGHLIN: ETERNAL AND
GRACIOUS LORD, NOTHING ESCAPES
YOUR ATTENTION.
YOU READ THE INTENTIONS OF OUR
MIND AND THE TRUE DESIRES OF
OUR HEARTS.
MAY EVERYTHING WE DO BEGIN WITH
YOUR HOLY INSPIRATION,
CONTINUING WITH YOUR SUSTAINING
GRACE, AND REACH YOUR DIVINE
PURPOSE FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR
PEOPLE, NOT JUST SOME PEOPLE,
BUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE ENTIRE
NATION.
SO BOTH IN WORD AND DEED MAY WE
GIVE YOU GLORY NOW AND FOREVER.
THE CHAIR HAS
EXAMINED THE JOURNAL OF THE
LAST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS AND
ANNOUNCES TO THE HOUSE HIS
APPROVAL THEREOF.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1,
THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL
BE LED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA, MR. WILSON.
EVERYONE, INCLUDING
OUR GUESTS IN THE GALLERY,
PLEASE JOIN IN.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH
IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER
GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE CHAIR WILL
ENTERTAIN ONE-MINUTE REQUESTS.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?
REQUEST PERMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, JUAREZ,
MEXICO, IS ONE OF THE MOST
DANGEROUS PLACES IN THE WORLD.
MORE THAN 3,000 PEOPLE WERE
MURDERED THERE IN 2010 ALONE.
THREE TRIPLE HOMICIDES OCCURRED
JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND.
ALSO TWO AMERICAN TEENAGERS,
CARLOS AND JUAN, WERE BRUTALLY
MURDERED IN THE WEEKEND
SHOOTINGS.
JUAREZ ACROSS FROM EL PASO,
TEXAS, AS WELL AS THE REST OF
THE BORDER, IS A LAWLESS WAR
ZONE CONTROLLED BY THE VIOLENT
DRUG CARTELS.
DESPITE THE CONTINUED LOSS OF
AMERICAN LIFE, THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO
ADMIT THAT THERE'S A WAR ON THE
SOUTHERN BORDER.
THIS VIOLENCE IS A LETHAL
CANCER THAT IS SPREADING
QUICKLY INTO THE UNITED STATES.
THE NARCOTERRORISTS DO NOT
RECOGNIZE INTERNATIONAL LINES.
THIS IS A MATTER OF NATIONAL
SECURITY AND IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THE
BORDER.
MEANWHILE, THE ADMINISTRATION
HAS PROPOSED A WHOPPING $53
BILLION IN HIGH-SPEED RAIL
SUBSIDIES, INSTEAD OF MORE
CHOOCHOO TRAINS, THAT MONEY
SHOULD GO TO THE NATIONAL
BORDER SECURITY DEFENSE.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THIS HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND
MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
A COUPLE DAYS AGO DURING THE
SUPER BOWL A TV AD WAS AIRED
THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE GRIT AND
SPIRIT AND INGENUITY OF METRO
DETROITERS WHICH GIVES US THE
ABILITY TO MAKE SOME OF THE
GREATEST CARS IN THE WORLD.
THAT SPIRIT OF DETROIT IS
ROOTED IN OUR AMERICAN VALUES
OF LIFE, OF LIBERTY, OF THE
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
AND IT'S THAT SPIRIT THAT
TRANSFORMED THE WORLD WAR II
INTO THE ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY
THAT SAVED THIS COUNTRY, SAVED
THIS WORLD FROM THE THREAT OF
FASCISM.
MR. SPEAKER, I BELIEVE TODAY
THAT THAT SAME SPIRIT OF
DETROIT WILL HELP BUILD THE NEW
CARS THAT WILL BE POWERED BY
ELECTRICITY, TO HELP BUILD NEW
HOMES AND OFFICES WHICH WILL BE
HEATED BY THE SUN AND
MANUFACTURE THE BEST PRODUCTS
IN THE WORLD.
YOU SEE, WHEN YOU MAKE IT IN
DETROIT, YOU HELP MAKE IT IN
AMERICA.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, AS
AMERICANS RECOGNIZE BLACK
HISTORY MONTH, I'M HONORED THIS
MONTH IN THE MIDLANDS OF SOUTH
CAROLINA THAT HISTORY IS BEING
MADE BY REVEREND CHARLES B.
JACKSON JR.
HE'S BEING HAILED ON FEBRUARY
27 FOR SERVING HIS
EXTRAORDINARY 40 YEARS EVER
DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP AT BROOKLAND
BAPTIST CHURCH IN WEST
COLUMBIA.
HE BEGAN PREACHING AT AGE 9.
HE ENERGIZED ONE OF THE
FASTEST-GROWING CONGREGATIONS
IN SOUTHEAST.
HE ENCOURAGED THE 65 MINISTRIES
OF THE CHURCH.
HE PROMOTE ADD NEW SANCTUARY
THAT SITS 2,300 FOLLOWED BY A
68,000 SQUARE FOOT COMMUNITY
RESOURCE CENTER.
IN 2008 THEY ACQUIRED A 94,000
SQUARE FOOT EDUCATIONAL
FACILITY WITH 11 ACRES DOWNTOWN
WHILE EMPLOYING OVER 160
DEDICATED PERSONNEL.
A SECOND LOCATION WAS LAUNCHED
IN RICH LAPD NORTHEAST PASTORED
BY DR. JOHNSON.
DR. JACKSON IS MARRIED AND THE
FATHER OF TWO CHILDREN.
REVEREND JACKSON JR. AND
CANDICE JACKSON AN ASSOCIATED
ATTORNEY ALONG WITH
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, FORMER IVA
GAYMAN, AND FOUR GRANDCHILDREN.
IN CONCLUSION, GOD BLESS OUR
TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET
SPETCH AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON
TERRORISM -- SEPTEMBER 11 AND
THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM OHIO RISE?
I REQUEST
FOR ONE MINUTE.
PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THIS AFTERNOON
THE HOUSE WILL DEBATE EXTENSION
OF THE PATRIOT ACT.
I HAVE HERE A REPORT FROM THE
"L.A. TIMES" DOT-COM THAT SAYS
F.B.I. INTELLIGENCE
INVESTIGATIONS HAVE COMPROMISED
THE CIVIL LIBERTIES OF AMERICAN
CITIZENS FAR MORE FREQUENTLY
AND TO A GREATER EXTENT THAN
PREVIOUSLY ASSUMED.
THE REPORT GOES ON TO SAY THAT
IN 2007 THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT'S INSPECTOR GENERAL
TOLD CONGRESS THE F.B.I. MAY
HAVE VIOLATED THE LAW OR
GOVERNMENT POLICY, AS MANY AS
3,000 TIMES SINCE 2003.
IN THE COURSE OF SECRETLY
COLLECTING TELEPHONE, BANK, AND
CREDIT CARD RECORDS WITHOUT
WARRANTS.
INSTEAD USING SO-CALLED
NATIONAL SECURITY LETTERS THAT
GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO DEMAND
THIS KIND OF INFORMATION AND
GET IT.
THE PATRIOT ACT IS A
CONSTITUTION.
DESTRUCTIVE UNDERMINING OF THE
WE STARTED THIS CONGRESS OFF
WITH A DISCUSSION ABOUT READING
THE CONSTITUTION, MANY OF US
CARRY CONSTITUTIONS WITH US IN
OUR POCKET.
HOW ABOUT TODAY WE TAKE A STAND
FOR THE CONSTITUTION TO SAY
THAT ALL AMERICANS SHOULD BE
FREE FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCH
AND SEIZURE AND TO MAKE CERTAIN
THAT THE PATRIOT ACT, THE
ATTEMPT TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE
PATRIOT ACT IS BEAT DOWN.
IT'S TIME THAT WE REALLY
REMEMBER THE ESSENCE OF WHAT
THAT MOTTO, DON'T TREAD ON ME,
MEANS.
IT MEANS YOU PROTECT YOUR
LIBERTIES.
YOU STAND FOR FREEDOM.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM TEXAS RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO RISE TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE, REVISE
AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, ON
NOVEMBER 5, 1994, FORMER
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN
ANNOUNCED HE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED
WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
YOU NOW BEGIN THE JOURNEY THAT
WILL LEAD INTO INTO THE SUNSET
OF MY LIFE.
AT THAT TIME FOUR MILLION
AMERICANS SUFFERED WITH
ALZHEIMER'S.
TODAY OVER FIVE MILLION NOW
CARRY THAT DIAGNOSIS AND FOR
MEMBERS OF MY GENERATION, THAT
NUMBER WILL DOUBLE TO 10
MILLION.
PRESIDENT REAGAN'S 100TH
BIRTHDAY WOULD HAVE BEEN THIS
PAST SUNDAY.
MIND ACT.
THIS WEEK I'M INTRODUCING THE
IF PASSED IT WILL ESTABLISH THE
ISSUANCE OF UNITED STATES
ALZHEIMER'S BONDS TO AID IN THE
FUNDING OF ALZHEIMER'S
RESEARCH.
PROCEEDS OF BOND SALES WOULD
FUND THE PROGRAM AND BE
AVAILABLE TO THE DIRECTOR OF
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
HEALTH SOLELY FOR ALZHEIMER'S
RESEARCH.
THE REVENUES GENERATED BY THE
SALE OF BONDS WOULD BE FUNDS
FOR RESEARCH IN ADDITION NOT
INSTEAD OF REGULAR APPROPRIATED
FUNDS.
IN HIS LETTER PRESIDENT REAGAN
SAID, I KNOW FOR AMERICA THERE
AHEAD.
WILL ALWAYS BE A BRIGHT DAWN
I KNOW HE IS CORRECT.
THERE COULD BE NO MORE LOVING
GIFT FOR MEMBERS OF MY
GENERATION TO FUTURE
GENERATIONS THAN TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL NONFEDERAL FUNDING
TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE
INFLICTED OR WILL BE DIAGNOSED
WITH ALZHEIMER'S.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
CHAIR WILL REMIND ALL PERSONS
IN THE GALLERY THAT THEY ARE
HERE AS GUESTS OF THE HOUSE AND
THAT ANY MANIFESTATION OF
APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF THE
PROCEEDINGS OF THIS HOUSE IS IN
VIOLATION OF THE RULES OF THE
HOUSE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
I ASK UNANIMOUS
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA RISE?
CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE.
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, IT COMES AS A
SURPRISE TO MOST AMERICANS TO
LEARN THAT THE LARGEST ABORTION
PROVIDER IN AMERICA IS ALSO THE
LARGEST RECIPIENT OF FEDERAL
FUNDING UNDER TITLE 10.
IT'S HEARTBREAKING NEWS THIS
MORNING THAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD
OF AMERICA HAS NOW BEEN THE
SUBJECT OF ONE MORE UNDERCOVER
VIDEO SHOWING SOMEONE POSING AS
A *** BEING FACILITATED BY
EMPLOYEES AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD
IN HOW TO SECURE SECRET
ABORTIONS, S.T.D. TESTING, AND
CONTRACEPTION FOR CHILD
PROSTITUTES.
AS A FATHER OF TWO TEENAGE
DAUGHTERS I SEE THE VIDEO THAT
CAME OUT THIS MORNING AND LAST
WEEK AND IT'S AN OUTRAGE TO ME.
THAT EMPLOYEES OF PLANNED
PARENTHOOD CLINICS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY ARE FACILITATING THE
ABUSE OF MINOR GIRLS IN THIS
COUNTRY.
IT SHOULD BE A SCANDAL TO EVERY
AMERICAN.
THE TIME HAS COME TO DENY ALL
FEDERAL FUNDING TO PLANNED
PARENTHOOD OF AMERICA.
I'M AUTHORED TITLE 10
PROHIBITION ACT WHICH WOULD
DENY TITLE 10 FUNDS TO
PARENTHOOD OR ANY OTHER
ABORTION PROVIDER AND CONGRESS
MUST ACT AND ACT NOW TO MOVE
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
PRO-LIFE AMERICANS AND ALL
AMERICANS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED
TO SUBSIDIZE AMERICA'S LARGEST
ABORTION PROVIDER OR CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE --
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
TO TITLE 10 CLINICS
THAT ENGAGE IN THIS ABHORRENT
BEHAVIOR.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM VIRGINIA RISE?
MINUTE.
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
IN THE WAKE OF THE
DEVASTATING ATTACKS TARGETING
CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ AND EGYPT
LAST YEAR, IT IS CLEAR THAT
RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN THE
MIDDLE EAST ARE FACING A GRAVE
THREAT.
THERE ARE EVEN REPORTS THAT
CHRISTIAN WOMEN WHO HAVE FLED
IRAQ ARE LIVING IN GHETTOS IN
SYRIA AND HAVING BEEN DRIVEN TO
PROS PI CONSTITUTION IN AN
ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR
FAMILIES.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ISRAEL IT
CONTAINS REFERENCE TO ANCIENT
IRAQ THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY.
ABRAHAM, EVIDENTER, DANIEL --
ESTHER AND DANIEL TO NAME A
FEW.
A CHRISTIAN MOTHER OF FIVE IN
PAKISTAN REMAINS IN PRISON
CHARGED WITH BLAST FAMILIARY.
IF FOUND GUILTY SHE FACES THE
DEATH PENALTY.
IN THE FACE OF THESE GRIM
REALITIES, I HAVE INTRODUCED
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION, H.R.
440, WHICH WOULD CREATE A
SPECIAL ENVOY AT THE STATE
DEPARTMENT TO ADVOCATE ON
BEHALF OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES
IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND SOUTH
CENTRAL ASIA.
I URGE ALL COLLEAGUES WHO CARE
ABOUT THE PERSECUTION OF
CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ AND PAKISTAN
, EQUIPPED TO CO-SPONSOR MY
BILL.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS PAST
WEEKEND --
MR. SPEAKER, THIS
PAST WEEKEND AMERICANS CAME
TOGETHER TO HONOR THE 100TH
BIRTHDAY OF PRESIDENT REAGAN.
PRESIDENT REAGAN BELIEVED THAT
PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND
HARD WORK ARE THE CORNER STONES
OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.
HE UNDERSTAND AMERICA'S
GREATNESS AND EXCEPTIONALISM.
NO AMERICAN WILL EVER FORGET
HOW HE TOUTED AMERICA AS A
SHINING CITY ON A HILL.
AND QUOTE, BUILT ON ROCKS
STRONGER THAN OCEANS,
WINDSWEPT, AND TEEMING WITH
PEOPLE OF ALL KINDS LIVING IN
HARMONY AND PEACE.
IN THESE DRUBBLED ECONOMIC
TIMES, WE WOULD BE WISE TO
FOLLOW REAGAN'S LESSONS THAT
LIMITED GOVERNMENT, LOW TAXES,
AND FREE ENTERPRISE FOSTER
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB
CREATION.
REAGAN KNEW THAT FREEDOM WAS
AMERICA'S GREATEST EXPORT TO
THE WORLD.
WHETHER IT WAS PROMOTING
FREEDOM OVERSEAS AGAINST A
COMMUNIST THREAT OR AT HOME
THROUGH FREE MARKETS.
PRESIDENT REAGAN LEFT AN
UNPARALLELED LEGACY TO HIS
COUNTRY AND WE HONOR HIS
EXTRAORDINARY LIFE ON WHAT
WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS IS00TH --
100TH BIRTHDAY.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM WISCONSIN RISE MR.
SENSENBRENNER: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE.
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER,
A FEW MINUTES AGO THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
OHIO, MR. KUCINICH, CALLED FOR
NOT RE-AUTHORIZING TEMPORARILY
THREE EXPIRING PROVISIONS OF
THE PATRIOT ACT.
ALLEGEDLY BECAUSE THE F.B.I.
HAD FOUND SEVERAL LIBERTIES
VIOLATIONS.
IN HIS ONE-MINUTE ADDRESS, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO
UNFORTUNATELY MISSED THE POINT.
HE USED THE LAW ON NATIONAL
SECURITY LETTERS TO SHOW ABUSES
OF THE PATRIOT ACT.
THE PATRIOT ACT DID NOT
AUTHORIZE NATIONAL SECURITY
LETTERS.
THOSE LETTERS WERE AUTHORIZED
IN 1986 UNDER LEGISLATION
SPONSORED BY THE SENATOR FROM
VERMONT, MR. LEAHY, WHO OPPOSES
.
THE PATRIOT ACT AND ALWAYS HAS.
I WOULD HOPE AS WE DEBATE THE
TEMPORARY RE-AUTHORIZATION OF
THREE EXPIRING PROVISIONS OF
THE PATRIOT ACT THAT WE IN THE
PAINT THAT ACT WITH A BROAD
BRUSH BUT IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC
ABUSES OF THESE EXPIRING
PROVISIONS WE SHOULD CONFINE
DEBATE TO THEM.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A
COMMUNICATION.
THE HONORABLE, THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, MADAM, WE HAVE
THE HONOR TO TRANSMIT AN
ENRELOPE CONTAINING AN ADDITION
TO THE FEDERAL REGISTER FIRST
DECLARED IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 196
OF FEBRUARY 2, 2006.
BE WEST -- WITH BEST WISHES, I
AM, SINCERELY, KAREN L. HAAS,
CLERK OF THE HOUSE.
THE
CLERK WILL REREAD THE MESSAGE.
PROVIDES FOR THE
AUTOMATIC TERMINATION OF A
NATIONAL EMERGENCY UNLESS PRIOR
TO THE ANNIVERSARY DATE OF ITS
DECLARATION THE PRESIDENT
PUBLISHES IN A FEDERAL REGISTER
A NOTICE STATING THAT THE
EMERGENCY IS TO CONTINUE IN
EFFECT BEYOND THE ANNIVERSARY
DATE.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS
PROVISION, I HAVE SENT TO THE
FEDERAL REGISTER FOR
PUBLICATION THE ENCLOSED NOTICE
STATING THAT THE NATIONAL
EMERGENCY DECLARED IN EXECUTIVE
ORDER 133-96 OF FEBRUARY 7,
2006, WITH RESPECT TO THE
SITUATION OR IN RELATION TO THE
COTE DU'IVOIRE THROUGH 2011.
THE SITUATION IN OR IN RELATION
TO THE AREA WHICH HAS BEEN A
SUBJECT OF THE UNITED NATIONS
SECURITY COUNCIL IN RESOLUTION
1572 OF 2004 HAS RESULTED IN
THE MASSACRE OF LARGE NUMBERS
OF THE CIVILIANS, WIDESPREAD
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES,
SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL VIOLENCE
AND UNREST AND FATAL ATTACKS
AGAINST INTERNATIONAL
PEACEKEEPING FORCES.
IN MARCH, 2007, A POLITICAL
AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED BY TWO
PROTAGONISTS IN THE CONFLICT.
AS RECENT EVENTS SURROUNDING
THE AREA, THE SITUATION
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN
CONTINUES TO POSE AN UNUSUAL
AND EXTRAORDINARY THREAT TO THE
NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN
SNOIFL UNITED STATES.
FOR THESE REASONS, I HAVE
DETERMINED THAT IT IS NECESSARY
TO CONTINUE THE NATIONAL
EMERGENCY AND RELATED MEASURES
BLOCKING THE PROPERTY OF
CERTAIN PERSONS CONTRIBUTING TO
THE CONFLICT IN THE AREA.
SIGNED, BARACK OBAMA, THE WHITE
HOUSE, JANUARY 26, 2011.
THE
MESSAGE IS REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND ORDERED PRINTED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
TODAY MARKS THE
PASSING OF OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE
JACK MURTHA OF PENNSYLVANIA.
I RISE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO HIM.
HE WAS A GIANT OF THIS CHAMBER,
AN UNSURPASSED TALENT, A
POLITICAL SERVANT A PUBLIC
SERVANT TO THE END.
THOSE OF US WHO SERVED WITH HIM
ARE HONORED TO CALL HIM
COLLEAGUE, THOSE OF IN THIS
BODY, MANY OF US WERE
PRIVILEGED TO CALL HIM FRIEND,
COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND.
THE OUTPOURING OF ACCOLADES
THAT CAME FORWARD AT HIS
PASSING WAS SOMETHING QUITE
REMARKABLE AND I HOPE THAT IT
WAS A COMFORT AND HAS BEEN A
COMFORT TO HIS FAMILY.
CERTAINLY TO THOSE OF US WHO
WORKED WITH HIM WHO KNEW HIS
LOVE OF HIS DISTRICT, WHO
REMEMBER THE WAY HE HELD COURT
IN THE PENNSYLVANIA CORNER AND
GAVE OUT HIS BLESSING AND HIS
ADVICE, JACK MURTHA'S WISDOM,
COUNSEL AND KNOWLEDGE WILL
CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US ALL.
TO WATCH JACK MURTHA LEGISLATE
WAS TO WATCH A MASTER AT WORK
BUT MORE INDICATIVE OF HIS
CHARACTER WAS TO WATCH HIM
COMMUNICATE WITH THE MEN AND
WOMEN IN UNIFORM, WHETHER NEAR
THE BATTLE FEEL OR NEAR THEIR
BEDSIDE HE THANKED THEM FOR
THEIR COURAGE AND LISTENED TO
THEIR CONCERNS, HE ALWAYS
ANSWERED THEIR NEEDS, RESPONDED
TO THEIR CALLS FOR BODY ARMOR,
UPARMORED VEHICLES AND RELIABLE
RADIOS AMONG OTHER THINGS.
IN THOSE MOMENT HE BONDED WITH
THEM WITH HIS OWN PERSONAL
MILITARY EXPERIENCES.
HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR
AND PURPLE HEART HIMSELF.
THE NATION SAW JACK'S COURAGE
ON THE BATTLEFIELD, IN CONGRESS
AS HE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE WAR
IN IRAQ, AND IN DOING SO HE
MADE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN
THE WAR AND THE WARRIOR.
ALWAYS COMMIT ITED TO OUR
NATIONAL DEFENSE, FOREVER BOUND
TO A CAUSE OF OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY, JACK MURTHA MEASURED
THE STRENGTH OF OUR COUNTRY NOT
ONLY BY THE MIGHT OF OUR
MILITARY, BEHE ALSO MEASURED IT
BY THE STRENGTH AND WELL BEING
OF OUR PEOPLE.
A MUCH DECORATED CHAMPION ON
THE BATTLEFIELD, HE WAS A HERO
IN ADVANCING SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH TO FIGHT AGAINST
BREAST CANCER, PROSTATE CANCER,
DIABETES, H.I.V. AND AIDS TO
NAME A FEW.
TODAY, WE REMEMBER HIM ALWAYS
THINKING OF THE MOTTO OF THE
MARINE CORPS, SEMPER FI.
THAT MOTTO OF THE MARINE CORPS,
WHICH JACK SERVED PROUDLY FOR
37 YEARS, WAS THE MOTTO OF HIS
LIFE.
TO THE END, HE REMAINED ALWAYS
FAITHFUL TO GOD AND COUNTRY TO
HIS HOMETOWN OF JOHNSTOWN, AND
MOST OF ALL TO HIS WIFE JOYCE,
HIS CHILDREN AND HIS
GRANDCHILDREN.
PATRIOT, CHAMPION, HERO, GIANT,
JACK MURTHA.
WE WILL NEVER SEE HIS LIKE
AGAIN.
AGAIN, I HOPE IT IS A COMFORT
TO HIS FAMILY THAT THIS ONE
YEAR LATER SO MANY OF US
REMEMBER JACK MURTHA AND PRAY
FOR THEIR -- PRAY FOR HIS
FAMILY.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THANK YOU.
THE
YEALT YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE
A COMMUNICATION.
THE HONORABLE, THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT
TO THE PERMISSION GRANTED IN
CLAUSE 2H OF RULE 2 OF THE
RULES OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, THE CLERK
RECEIVES THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE
FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE
SENATE ON JANUARY 26, 2011, AT
4:50 P.M.
THAT THE SENATE PASSED WITHOUT
AMENDMENT H R. 366,
APPOINTMENT, RONALD REAGAN
CENTENNIAL COMMISSION, WITH
BEST WISHES, I AM, SIGNED
SINCERERY, KAREN L. HAAS.
THE
CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A
COMMUNICATION.
THE HONORABLE THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT
TO THE PERMISSION GRANTED IN
CLAUSE 2H OF RULE 2, OF THE
RULES OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, THE CLERK
RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE
FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE NAT
ON JANUARY 27, AT 4:03 P.M.
APPOINTMENT, CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE.
WITH BEST WISHES, I AM, SIGNED
SINCERELY, KAREN L. HAAS.
THE
CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE THE
COMMUNICATION.
THE HONORABLE THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT
TO THE PERMISSION GRANTED IN
CLAUSE 2H OF RULE 2 OF THE U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE
CLERK RECEIVES THE FOLLOWING
MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF
THE SENATE ON FEBRUARY 1, 2011,
AT 10:52 A.M., APPOINTMENT,
BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, WITH
BEST WISHES, I AM, SIGNED
SINCERELY, KAREN L. HAAS.
THE
CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A
COMMUNICATION.
THE HONORABLE THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT
TO PERMISSION GRANTED IN CLAUSE
2H OF RULE 2 THE CLERK RECEIVES
THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM THE
SEC THE RARE -- SECRETARY OF
THE SENATE AT 12:00 P.M. THAT
THE SENATE PASSED SENATE 1 8,
APPOINTMENT, MIGRATORY BIRD
CONSERVATION COMMISSION,
PRESIDENT'S EXPORT COUNCIL.
WITH BEST WISHES, I AM, SIGNED
SINCERELY, KAREN L. HAAS.
THE
CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A
COMMUNICATION.
THE HONORABLE, THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT
TO THE PERMISSION GRANTED IN
CLAUSE 2H OF RULE 2 OF THE
RULES OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, THE CLERK
RECEIVES THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE
FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE
SENATE ON FEBRUARY 3, 2011 AT
10:33 A.M., APPOINTMENT, SENATE
NATIONAL SECURITY WORKING
GROUP, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY, HOLOCAUST
MEMORIAL COUNCIL, COMMISSION ON
SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN
EUROPE, UNITED STATES-CHINA
INTERPARLIAMENTARIAN,
INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP
CONFERENCE, UNITED
STATES-MEXICO INTER
PARLIAMENTARY GROUP CONFERENCE,
BRITISH-AMERICAN
INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP
CONFERENCE.
WITH BEST WISHES, I AM, SIGNED
SINCERELY, KAREN L. HAAS.
THE
CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A
COMMUNICATION.
THE HO HONORABLE THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT
TO THE PERMISSION GRANTED IN
CLAUSE 2H OF RULE 2 OF THE
RULES OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES THE CLERK
RECEIVES THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE
FROM THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AT 11:52 A.M.,
APPOINTMENT, SENATE NATIONAL
SECURITY WORKING GROUP.
WITH BEST WISHES, I AM, SIGNED
SINCERELY, KAREN L. HAAS.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 4 OF RULE 1,
THE FOLLOWING ENROLLED BILL WAS
SIGNED BY THE SPEAKER ON
JANUARY 22,2011.
H.R. 366 TO PROVIDE
FOR AN ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY
EXTENSION PROGRAM AROUND THE
SMALL BUSINESS ACT AND SMALL
BUSINESS INVESTMENT ACT OF 1958
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE
20, THE CHAIR WILL POSTPONE
FURTHER MOTIONS TO PROON WHICH
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED.
RECORD VOTES ON POSTPONED
QUESTIONS WILL BE TAKEN AFTER
6:30 P.M. TODAY.
FRRP DOES THINK GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS SEEK RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE THAT THE
HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND
PASS H.R. 514.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
A BILL TO EXTEND
EXPIRING PROVISIONS OF THE
U.S.A. PAY TO THE IMPROVEMENT
OF 2005 AND INTELLIGENCE REFORM
AND TERRORISM PROVEPKS ACT OF
2004 RELATING TO ACCESS TO
BUSINESS RECORDS INVOLVING
INDIVIDUAL TERRORIST AND AGENTS
OF FOREIGN POWERS AND ROVING
WIRETAPPING UNTIL DECEMBER 8,
2011.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. SHIP,
AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN, MR. CONYERS, EACH
WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
SMITH.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE
FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE
AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND
INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS ON
H.R. 513 CURRENTLY UNDER
CONSIDERATION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE GENTLEMAN MAY PROCEED.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, NEXT
SEPTEMBER 11 WILL MARK THE
10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE
WORST TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE
U.S. IN HISTORY.
AMERICA IS FORTUNATE NOT TO
HAVE SUFFERED ANOTHER ATTACK OF
SUCH MAGNITUDE IN THE PAST
DECADE BUT WE MUST NOT TAKE
THIS RELATIVELY SECURE COUNTRY
FOR GRANTED OR LET OUR SAFETY
BECOME COMPLAY SEASONCY.
AMERICA IS SAFE TODAY NOT
BECAUSE TERRORISTS AN SPIES
HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR GOAL TO
DESTROY OUR FREEDOMS AND WAY OF
LIFE.
WE ARE SAFE TODAY BECAUSE THE
MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED
FORCES, OUR INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY AND OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WORK EVERY
SINGLE DAY TO PROTECT US.
CONGRESS MUST ENSURE THAT THEY
ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE RESOURCES
THEY NEED TO COUNTERACT
CONTINUING TERRORIST THREATS.
ON FREB 28, THREE IMPORTANT
PROVISIONS OF THE U.S.A.
PATRIOT ACT WILL EXPIRE.
THESE PROVISIONS GIVEN
INVESTIGATORS IN NATIONAL
SECURITY CASES THE AUTHORITY TO
CONDUCT ROVING WIRETAPS, TO
SEEK CERTAIN BUSINESS RECORDS
AND TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE ON
LOAN -- ON LONE TERRORISTS NOT
AFFILIATED WITH A KNOWN
TERRORIST GROUPS.
THESE PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN USED
BY DOMESTIC LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES FOR YEARS TO APPREHEND
TYPICAL CRIMINALS.
IT IS COMMON SENSE TO GIVE OUR
NATIONAL INVESTIGATORS THE SAME
TOOLS TO FIGHT TRIFFS THAT OUR
POLICE OFFICERS HAVE TO FIGHT
CRIME THEY HAVE ONGOING THREAT
FROM AL QAEDA AND OTHER GROUPS
HAVE CONTINUED.
TERRORISTS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO
BLOW UP A PLANE OVER DETROIT,
TO BOMB NEW YORK'S SUBWAY
SYSTEM TO DESTROY SKY SCRAPERS
IN DALLAS, TEXAS, AND
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, AND TO
DETONATE A CAR BOMB IN NEW YORK
CITY'S TIMES SQUARE.
MOST OF THESE PLOTS FOR
THWARTED THANKS TO THE PATRIOT
ACT AND OTHER NATIONAL SECURITY
LAWS.
THE PATRIOT ACT WORKS.
IT HAS PROVED EFFECTIVE IN
PREVENTING TERRORIST ATTACKS
AND PROTECTING AMERICANS.
TO LET THESE PROVISIONS EXPIRE
SAFE.
WOULD LEAVE EVERY AMERICAN LESS
WE MUST CONTINUE THESE
INTELLIGENCE GATHERING MEASURES
TO WIN OUR FIGHT AGAINST
TERRORISTS.
PRESIDENT OBAMA AGREES.
IN A LETTER TO CONGRESS LAST
MONTH, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE ADMIRAL CLAPPER
AND ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER
URGED US TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE
EXPIRING PROVISIONS, NOTING
THEY ARE CRITICAL TOOLS THAT,
QUOTE, HAD BEEN USED IN
NUMEROUS HIGHLY SENSITIVE
INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION
OPERATIONS, END QUOTE.
THIS BILL RE-AUTHORIZES THE
EXPIRING PROVISIONS THROUGH
DECEMBER 8 OF 2011, THE LAST
DAY THAT THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES IS SCHEDULED TO
BE IN SESSION.
THIS EXTENSION SERVES TWO
.
IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS.
SEC, IT PROVIDES CONGRESS WITH
THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN A
THOROUGH REVIEW OF THESE
PROVISIONS AS WE PURSUE AND
CONSIDER A LONGER
RE-AUTHORIZATION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO
PROTECT AMERICANS AGAINST
TERRORIST PLOTS AND ATTACKS.
MR. SPEAKER, I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I RELUCTANTLY RISE
IN NONSUPPORT OF THIS PROVISION
TO EXTEND EXPIRING PROVISIONS
OF THE PATRIOT ACT BECAUSE OF
SECTION 215 OF THE PATRIOT ACT
WHICH I'D LIKE TO CALL TO YOUR
ATTENTION.
THIS IS THE ACT THAT ALLOWS A
SECRET FISA COURT TO AUTHORIZE
OUR GOVERNMENT TO COLLECT
BUSINESS RECORDS OR ANYTHING
ELSE THAT A PERSON OR BUSINESS
TO PRODUCE VIRTUALLY ANY TYPE
RECORD.
WE DON'T THINK THAT THAT WAS
RIGHT THEN.
WE DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT NOW.
AND I FEEL OBLIGATED TO OPPOSE
ANY EXTENSION OF THESE EXPIRING
ACTS SINCE WE HAVE HAD NO
HEARINGS, NO MARKUP -- MARK UP,
NO COMMITTEE VOTE, NOBODY'S
DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
WE'LL GET TO IT AFTER IT.
WELL, I CAN'T GO ALONG WITH
THAT.
THIS PROVISION IS CONTRARY TO
TRADITIONAL MOTIONS OF SEARCH
AND SEIZURE WHICH REQUIRE THE
GOVERNMENT TO SHOW REASONABLE
SUSPICION OR PROBABLE CAUSE
BEFORE UNDERTAKING AN
INVESTIGATION THAT INFRINGES
UPON A PERSON'S PRIVACY.
SO I URGE A NO VOTE ON THE
EXTENSION OF THESE EXPIRING
PROVISIONS AND RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I YIELD FIVE MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WISCONSIN, MR. SENSENBRENNER,
WHO IS CURRENTLY THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE CRIME AND HOMELAND
SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, AND WHO
PREVIOUSLY AS CHAIRMAN OF THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ITSELF WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR WRITING THE
PATRIOT ACT PROVISIONS.
I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WISCONSIN.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
AT THE OUTSET LET ME SAY I'M A
LITTLE PUZZLED BY MY FRIEND
FROM MICHIGAN, MR. CONYERS, IS
OPPOSING THE EXTENSION OF THESE
THREE PROVISIONS OF THE PATRIOT
ACT TODAY.
BECAUSE LAST YEAR HE CALLED UP
A SENATE BILL THAT PROVIDED FOR
A YEAR'S EXTENSION OF THESE
THREE PROVISIONS AND MANAGE THE
TIME AND VOTED FOR IT.
AND AFTER HEARING HIS COMMENTS,
I'M WONDERING WHY HE HAS
CHANGED HIS MIND.
WOULD THE
GENTLEMAN YIELD?
ON YOUR
TIME.
IF YOU YIELD ME AN ADDITIONAL
MINUTE I'LL BE HAPPY TO YIELD.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN WILL
PROCEED.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS FOR
YIELDING.
IN 198 -- THREE NATIONAL
SECURITY LAWS WILL EXPIRE
THEM.
UNLESS CONGRESS RE-AUTHORIZES
H.R. 514 TEMPORARILY EXTENDS
THESE LAWS.
FISA BUSINESS RECORDS, ROVING
WIRETAPS, AND THE LONE WOLF
DEFINITION UNTIL DECEMBER 8 OF
THIS YEAR.
AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IN THE LAST
DECADE, I OVERSAW THE ENACTMENT
OF THE U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT IN
ATTACKS.
RESPONSE TO 9/11 TERRORIST
TITLE 2 OF THE ACT ADDRESSED
ENHANCED FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY.
16 SECTIONS OF THAT TITLE WERE
ORIGINALLY SET TO EXPIRE ON
DECEMBER 31, 2005.
ALSO SET TO EXPIRE ON THAT DATE
WAS SECTION 6001 OF THE
INTELLIGENCE REFORM AND
TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF
2004, WHICH IS THE LONE WOLF
DEFINITION.
IN 2005, I AGAIN SPEARHEADED
THE EFFORT TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE
PATRIOT ACT, RECOGNIZING THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ACT TO
AMERICA'S COUNTERTERRORISM
OPERATIONS THAN THE NEED FOR
THROR ROW OVERSIGHT, THE HOUSE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HELD NINE
SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS, THREE
DAYS OF FULL COMMITTEE
HEARINGS, THEN A ROBUST FULL
COMMITTEE MARK UP
RE-AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION.
U.S.A. PATRIOT IMPROVEMENT AND
RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005
MADE PERMANENT 14 OF THE 16
INTELLIGENCE PROVISIONS.
THE ACT EXTENDED THE SUNSET ON
SECTION 206, FISA ROVING
WIRETAPS, SECTION 215, FISA
BUSINESS RECORDS, AND THE LONE
WOLF DEFINITION UNTIL THE END
OF 2009.
BUT THE THREE REMAINING
TEMPORARY PROVISIONS WERE NOT
RE-AUTHORIZED BEFORE THAT
DEADLINE.
INSTEAD, THE THEN DEMOCRATIC
MAJORITY CHOSE TWICE TO EXTEND
THE PROVISIONS, FIRST FOR TWO
MONTHS, THEN FOR A YEAR WITHOUT
EVER BRINGING A
RE-AUTHORIZATION BILL TO THE
FLOOR.
THIS CONGRESS THINGS WILL BE
DIFFERENT.
WE MUST APPROVE A TEMPORARY
EXTENSION TODAY TO KEEP THESE
CRITICAL NATIONAL SECURITY
TOOLS IN PLACE.
BUT THIS EXTENSION WILL AFFORD
CONGRESS SUFFICIENT TIME TO
HOLD HEARINGS AND MARKUPS AND
ADOPT A PERMANENT
RE-AUTHORIZATION OF THESE
PROVISIONS THIS YEAR WHICH I
INTEND TO INTRODUCE SOON.
THE TIME FOR MULTIPLE TEMPORARY
EXTENSIONS IS OVER.
THE TERRORIST THREAT HAS NOT
SUBSIDED AND WILL NOT EXPIRE.
AND NEITHER SHOULD OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY LAWS.
IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT
CONGRESS MAKE PERMANENT THE
LONE WOLF DEFINITION.
THIS PROVISION CLOSES THE GAP
IN THE FISA ACT WHICH ALLOWED
TO EXPIRE COULD PERMIT
INDIVIDUAL TERRORISTS TO SLIP
THROUGH THE CRACKS AND CARRY
OUT HIS PLOT UNDETECTED.
WHEN FISA WAS ORIGINALLY
ENACTED IN 1978, TERRORISTS
WERE BELIEVED TO BE MEMBERS OF
AN IDENTIFIED GROUP.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE TODAY.
TODAY MORE THAN EVER WE ARE
CONFRONTED WITH TRANSFERRING
LOOSELY ORGANIZED TERRORIST
GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY
SUBSCRIBE TO A MOVEMENT OR
CERTAIN BELIEFS BUT DO NOT
BELONG TO OR IDENTIFY
THEMSELVES WITH A SPECIFIC
TERRORIST GROUP.
WITHOUT THE LONE WOLF
DEFINITION, OUR SURVEILLANCE
TOOLS WILL BE POWERLESS TO ACT
AGAINST THIS GROWING ACT TO
AMERICA'S SECURITY.
SECTION 206 OF THE PATRIOT ACT
AUTHORIZES THE USE OF ROVING OR
MULTIPOINT WIRETAPS FOR
NATIONAL SECURITY AND
INTELLIGENCE INVESTIGATIONS.
THIS ALLOWS THE GOVERNMENT TO
USE A SINGLE WIRETAP ORDER TO
COVER ANY COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
THAT THE TARGET USES OR MAY
USE.
WITHOUT ROVING WIRETAP
AUTHORITY, INVESTIGATORS WOULD
BE FORCED TO SEEK A NEW COURT
ORDER EACH TIME THEY NEED TO
CHANGE THE LOCATION, PHONE, OR
COMPUTER THAT NEEDS TO BE
MONITORED.
SECTION 215 OF THE ACT ALLOWS
THE FISA COURT TO ISSUE ORDERS
GRANTING THE GOVERNMENT ACCESS
TO BUSINESS RECORDS AND FORWARD
INTELLIGENCE, INLNASHT
TERRORISM, AND CLANDESTINE
INTELLIGENCE CASES.
THE 2005 ACT EXPANDS THE
SAFEGUARDS AGAINST POTENTIAL
ABUSE OF SECTION 215 AUTHORITY,
INCLUDING ADDITIONAL
CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT,
PROCEDURAL PROTECTIONS,
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS, AND
JUDICIAL REVIEW.
EACH OF THESE PROVISIONS ARE
INTEGRAL TO DEFENDING AMERICA'S
NATIONAL SECURITY AND MUST BE
KEPT INTACT.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
IN PASSING H.R. 514 AND YIELD
THE
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
I AM PLEASED NOW
TO RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW YORK, JERROLD NADLER, WHO
CONSTITUTION SUBCOMMITTEE
HAS BEEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
LONGER THAN ANY MEMBER IN THE
CONGRESS.
THREE MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
EXTENSION OF THE EXPIRING
PROVISIONS OF THE PATRIOT ACT,
THE INTELLIGENCE PREVENTION
ACT.
I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS EXTENSION
WHEN THE HOUSE HAS DONE NOTHING
TO CONSIDER THESE PROVISIONS OR
POSSIBLY REFORMS THROUGH A
HEARING OR MACK UP.
IN THE PAST MEMBERS HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE
CLASSIFIED BRIEFINGS, WE HAVE
DOZENS OF NEW MEMBERS WHO HAVE
RECEIVED NO SUCH BRIEFINGS.
SECTION 215 AUTHORIZES THE
GOVERNMENT TO OBTAIN TANGIBLE
THING RELATIVE TO A TERRORIST
INVESTIGATION EVEN IF THERE IS
NO SHOWING THAT THE THING
PERTAINS TO SUSPECTED
TERRORISTS OR TERRORIST
ACTIVITIES.
IT IS SWEEPING IN SCOPE AND THE
GOVERNMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO
SHOW REASONABLE SUSSSPIPPINGS
OR PROBABLE CAUSE BEFORE
UNDERTAKING THE INVESTIGATION
THAT INFRINGES UPON A PERSON'S
PRIVACY, INCLUDING THE RECORDS
OF WHAT HE'S READ IN THE
LIBRARY.
SHOULD EITHER ENSURE THINGS
COLLECTED HAVE A MEANINGFUL
NEXUS TO SUSPECTED TERRORIST
ACTIVITY OR ALLOW THE PROVISION
TO EXPIRE.
SECTION 206 PROVIDES FOR ROVING
RETIRE TAPS WHICH PERMIT THE
GOVERNMENT TO OBTAIN
INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE
ORDERS THAT IDENTIFY NEITHER
THE PERSON TO BE TAPPED.
THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY WHAT THE
DEAL WITH CELL PHONES AND THE
LIKE AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY.
IT GOES TOO FAR.
WITHOUT THE NECESSITY TO
SPECIFY EITHER THE PERSON OR
THE FACILITY TO BE TAPPED, THIS
IS FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES A
GENERAL GRANTED AUTHORITY TO
WIRETAP ANYONE AND ANYWHERE THE
GOVERNMENT WANTS.
THERE ARE ALMOST NO LIMITS TO
THIS AUTHORITY AND THE
REQUIREMENT THE GOVERNMENT NAME
-- AND NO REQUIREMENT THE
GOVERNMENT NAME A SPECIFIC
TARGET.
THIS IS VERY KIN TO THE BRITISH
WHICH LED TO THE COLONIAL
OUTRAGE WHICH LED TO THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
SECTION 6001 OF THE
INTELLIGENCE REFORM AND
TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF
2004, THE SO-CALLED LONE WOLF
PROVISION, SECRET INTELLIGENCE
SURVEILLANCE WHO ARE NOT
AFFILIATED WITH THE FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION.
ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT
TESTIMONY, THIS PROVISION HAS
NEVER BEEN USED, YET IT REMAINS
ON THE BOOKS.
IT'S NEVER BEEN USED BECAUSE
THERE'S OTHER AUTHORITY TO DO
THAT.
SURVEILLANCE OF AN INDIVIDUAL
IS NOT WORKING WITH THE FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT OR ORGANIZATION NOT
WHAT WE NORMALLY UNDERSTAND AS
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.
THERE MAY BE GOOD REASONS FOR
GOVERNMENT TO KEEP TABS ON SUCH
PEOPLE, BUT THAT IS NO REASON
TO SUSPEND ALL OUR LAWS UNDER
THE PRETEXT THIS IS A FOREIGN
INTELLIGENCE OPERATION.
WHILE SOME HAVE ARGUED EACH OF
THESE AUTHORITIES REMAIN
NECESSARY TOOLS IN THE FIGHT
AGAINST TERRORISM, AND THAT
THEY MUST BE EXTENDED WITHOUT
ANY MODIFICATIONS, OTHERS HAVE
CAREFUL REVIEW AND
MODIFICATION.
SOME HAVE ALLOWED SOME TO
SUNSET.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD EXAMINE HOW
IT'S WORKING, WHERE IT'S BEEN
SUCCESSFUL, WHERE IT'S FAILED,
WHERE IT GOES TOO FAR.
THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SUNSETS
AND TO EXTEND IT WITHOUT THAT
REVIEW UNDERMINES THAT PURPOSE.
I INTRODUCE THE NATIONAL
SECURITY LETTERS REFORM ACT
WHICH WOULD MAKE VITAL
IMPROVEMENTS TO PROTECT CIVIL
LIBERTIES WHILE ENSURING IT
REMAINS A TOOL IN NATIONAL
SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS.
I HOPE WE CAN WORK TO STRIKE
THAT BALANCE IN A RESPONSIBLE
MANNER BUT THE RECORD OF THE
ABUSE IS TOO GREAT FOR CONGRESS
TO IGNORE.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I HOPE WE'LL BE
EXAMINE HOW THESE PROVISIONS
HAVE BEEN USED OR ABUSED.
THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF SUNSETS
AND I HOPE WE CAN TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
YIELDING.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SPEAKER, HOW
MUCH TIME REMAINS ON EACH SIDE?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS HAS 12
MINUTES.
15 MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN HAS
MR. SPEAKER, I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
I AM PLEASED AT
THIS TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS, MR. RON PAUL, FOR THREE
MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.
I WAS OPPOSED TO THE PATRIOT
ACT IN 2001 AND DO NOT BELIEVE
NOW THAT IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO
EXTEND IT.
THE FOURTH AMENDMENT IS RATHER
CLEAR, IT SAYS WE SHOULD BE
SECURE IN OUR PAPERS, OUR
PERSONS, OUR HOMES, AND OUR
EFFECTS.
AND THAT IF WAR RENTS ARE TO BE
ISSUED, WE HAVE TO DO IT WITH
PROBABLE CAUSE AND DESCRIBE IN
PARTICULAR THE PLACES, PEOPLE,
AND THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING TO
LOOK AT.
AND I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED,
THOUGH, OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN
THAT WE HAVE DILUTED THE FOURTH
AMENDMENT.
IT WAS GREATLY DILUTED IN 2001,
BUT IT STARTED EARLIER THAN
THAT WHEN THE FISA LAW WAS
IN 1978,
THAT REALLY INTRODUCED THE
NOTION THAT THE FOURTH
AMENDMENT WAS RELATIVE AND NOT
ABSOLUTE.
LATER ON IT WAS FURTHER
WEAKENED IN 1998 AND OF COURSE
IN 2001.
I THINK OUR REACTION TO THE
HORRORS OF 9/11 WE CAN
UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN AND FEAR
THAT WAS DEVELOPED, BUT I THINK
THE REACTION TOOK US IN THE
WRONG DIRECTION BECAUSE THE
ASSUMPTION WAS MADE, OF COURSE,
THAT WE WEREN'T SPENDING ENOUGH
MONEY ON SURVEILLANCE AND EVEN
THOUGH THEN OUR INTELLIGENCE
AGENCIES RECEIVED $40 BILLION,
THEY DIDN'T GIVE US THE RIGHT
INFORMATION.
NOW WE ARE SPENDING $80
BILLION.
BUT ALSO LOOKS LIKE THE
CONCLUSION WAS -- THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE HAD TOO MUCH PRIVACY.
IF WE UNDERMINE THE PEOPLE'S
PRIVACY, SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER,
WE'LL BE SAFER.
I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT HAS
COME UP LATELY, HAS BEEN THAT
THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT IS TO
MAKE US PERFECTLY SAFE.
IT IS GOOD TO BE SAFE, BUT
GOVERNMENTS CAN'T MAKE US SAFE.
I QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT WE
HAVE BEEN MADE SAFER BY THE
PATRIOT ACT.
A LAW MAKES US SOMEWHAT SAFER,
IS THAT A JUSTIFICATION FOR THE
GOVERNMENT TO DO ANYTHING THEY
.
WANT?
IF I WANT TUB SAFE FROM CHILD
ABUSE AND I WIFE BEAT, THE GOTH
COULD PUT A CAMERA IN EVERY ONE
OF OUR HOUSES AND BATHROOMS AND
MAYBE SOMEBODY WOULD BE MADE
SAFER THIS WAY, BUT WHAT WOULD
YOU BE GIVING UP.
WHAT WE WANT FROM GOVERNMENT IS
TO ENFORCE THE LAW AND TO
PROTECT OUR LIBERTIES.
THIS, TO ME, HAS BEEN,
ESPECIALLY SINCE 9/11 A CLASSIC
EXAMPLE OF SACRIFICING LIBERTY
FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY.
NOW, I DIDN'T INVENT THOSE
TERMS.
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG
TIME.
IT'S EASILY JUSTIFIED.
I CAN UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE I WAS
HERE IN 2001 WHEN THIS CAME UP,
PEOPLE BECOME FRIGHTENED AND
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT
SOMETHING DONE BUT I THINK THIS
IS MISDIRECTED AND IT DOESN'T
SERVE OUR BENEFIT.
SO I THINK THIS TIME WE SHOULD
REALLY QUESTION WHY WE'RE
EXTENDING THIS.
WE'RE EXTENDING THE THREE WORST
PARTS.
WHY WERE THESE SUNSETS?
BECAUSE PEOPLE HAD CONCERN
ABOUT THEM.
THEY WEREN'T SURE THEY WERE
GOOD PIECES AND MAYBE THEY WERE
OVERKILL AND THEREFORE THEY
SAID WE BETTER REASSESS IT.
WE HAVE ALREADY EXTENDED IT
TWICE AND HERE WE'RE GOING TO
DO IT AGAIN, WITH THE INTENT, I
THINK IN A YEAR TO REASSESS IT
BUT THIS BILL DOESN'T MAKE
THINGS WORSE, DOESN'T MAKE
ANYTHING BETTER BUT IT DOES
EXTEND WHAT I CONSIDER --
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I ASK FOR A NO VOTE
ON THIS LEGISLATION.
THE
I YIELD THREE
GENTLEMAN IF TEXAS.
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA, MR.
DENT.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE,
THE RE-AUTHORIZATION OF THE
PATRIOT ACT.
FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, WE
NEED TO RE-AUTHORIZE THIS BILL.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THERE ARE
THREE PROVISIONS I THINK WE'RE
ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
THE WIRETAPS, SOMETHING WE VERY
MUCH NEED TO DO AND THE
BUSINESS RECORDS PROVISIONS.
WITH RESPECT TO WIRETAPS, I
THINK IT'S BEEN STATED ON THIS
FLOOR PUT SHOULD BE STATED ONCE
AGAIN, LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN
USING ROVING WIRETAPS FOR YEARS
AGAINST DRUG DEALERS AND
ORGANIZED CRIME.
SINCE 1986.
EXTENDING THAT TO TERRORISTS
MAKES GOOD SENSE.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT.
WE NEED TO GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND OUR INTELLIGENCE SERVICES
THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO TAKE
DOWN THE TERROR PLOTS BEFORE
THEY BECOME OPERATIONAL.
THAT'S WHY THIS EXTENSION IS
NEEDED.
ANOTHER PROVISION NOTED IS ALSO
IMPORTANT, MANY PLTS ARE BEING
CARRIED OUT BY LONE WOLF'S.
JIHAD JANE, MAJOR HASAN AN
OTHERS.
LONE WOLVES.
WE NEED TO PURSUE THESE LONE
WOLVES, JUST AS WE'VE GOT
TERRORISTS WHO ARE PART OF A
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION OR AN
AGENT OF A FOREIGN POWER.
THAT IS ESSENTIAL.
WITH RESPECT TO THE ISSUE OF
THE BUSINESS RECORDS, OFTEN
PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE
SOMEHOW TRYING TO EXAMINE ONE'S
LIBRARY RECORDS WHAT BOOKS
THEY'RE READING.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
WE KNOW THAT 9/11 TERRORISTS
WERE USING PUBLIC LIBRARY
COMPUTERS.
WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE ALSO
USING UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
COMPUTERS TO MAKE PLANE
RESERVATIONS AS WELL AS TO
CONFIRM THOSE RESERVATIONS.
THE IDEA IS TO BE ABLE TO
ACCESS ONE'S BUSINESS RECORDS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AFTER TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE CANNOT ONLY
APPREHEND THAT INDIVIDUAL WHO
IS PLANNING AN ATTACK BUT ALSO
THE NETWORK OF INDIVIDUALS WITH
WHOM THAT INDIVIDUAL MAY BE
WORKING.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED THIS ISSUE
OF BUSINESS RECORDS CONTAINED
IN THIS RE-AUTHORIZATION.
IN FACT, I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT
THE WORD LIBRARY APPEARS
ANYWHERE IN THE PATRIOT ACT.
THIS HAS BEEN DUBBED THE
LIBRARY PROVISION, WHICH IT IS
NOT.
I THINK IT IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT
WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED, OUR
INTELLIGENCE SERVICES WITH THE
TOOLS THEY NEED TO STOP
TERRORISM.
WE CANNOT TIE THEIR HANDS, WE
CANNOT TIE THE HANDS OF LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND MORE.
WE ARE ASKING THEM TO DO MORE
THE CRITICS OF MANY OF THESE
LEGISLATION OFTEN SAY WE NEED
TO GIVE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
-- LET LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FIGHT
THE BATTLES.
NEED.
THIS GIVES THEM THE TOOLS THEY
I URGE PASSAGE AND SUPPORT FOR
THIS RE-AUTHORIZATION OF THE
PATRIOT ACT.
BACK.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
I'M PLEASED TO
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA, BOBBY SCOTT, WHO HAS
BEEN THE CHAIR OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME IN THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FOR FOUR
YEARS.
THREE MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA.
THANK YOU.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO H. REFORM 54,
WHICH WOULD EXTEND FOR ONE YEAR
SWEEPING GOVERNMENTAL
INTRUSIONS INTO OUR LIVES AND
PRIVACY THAT WERE AUTHORIZED BY
THE U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT AND THE
2004 INTELLIGENCE ACT.
WITHOUT MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT
NONSTRAITING THAT THESE
EXTRAORDINARY POWERS ARE
NEEDED, WE SHOULD NOT EXTEND
THESE PROVISIONS FOR ONE FULL
YEAR OR FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME
IF THAT MATTER.
I THEREFORE OPPOSE THE BILL.
I'M OPPOSED NOT SIMPLY BECAUSE
I -- I AM OPPOSED BECAUSE I DO
NOT ACCEPT THE ARGUMENT THAT IN
ORDER TO BE SAFE WE NECESSARILY
HAVE TO SACRIFICE OUR RIGHTS
AND FREEDOMS.
I ADEPREE WITH BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN WHO STATED IN THE
FORMATION OF OUR NATION THAT
THEY WHO GIVE UP ESSENTIAL
LIBERTY TO OBTAIN TEMPORARY
SAFETY DESERVE NEITHER LIBERTY
NOR SAFETY.
ONE OF THE PROVISIONS THE BILL
RE-AUTHORIZES IS SECTION 215 OF
THE PATRIOT ACT THAT GIVES THE
GOVERNMENT THE POWER TO
SECRETLY INVIDE OUR PRIVATE
RECORDS, SUCH AS BOOKS WE READ
AT THE LIBRARY BY MERELY
ALLEGING THEY ARE RELEVANT TO A
TERRORISM INVESTIGATION BUT
WITHOUT HAVING TO SHOW THE
KECKS IN CONNECTION WITH ANY
SPECIFIC SUSPECTED TERRORIST OR
TERRORIST ACTIVITIES.
THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT TO SHOW
PROBABLE CAUSE OR EVEN
REASONABLE SUSPICION OF BEING
RELATED TO A SPECIFIC ACT OF
TERRORISM AND THEREFORE THERE'S
NO MEANINGFUL STANDARD TO JUDGE
WHETHER OR NOT THE MATERIAL IS
NECESSARY.
ANOTHER PROVISION OF H.R. 514
IS SECTION 206 OF THE PATRIOT
ACT WHICH IS REFERRED TO AS A
ROVING JOHN DOE WIRETAP
PROVISION.
IT GIVES THE GOVERNMENT THE
POWER TO WIRETAP A PHONE
CONVERSATION WITHOUT HAVING TO
BE SHOWN WHICH PHONE HAD BEEN
USED OR WHO WILL BE USING IT AN
WITHOUT REQUIRING A COURT ORDER
FOR THE SPECIFIC ROVING TAP.
THIRD PROVISION IS SECTION 6001
OF THE INTELLIGENCE REFORM AND
TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF
2004, REFERRED TO AS THE LONE
WOLF PROVISION, IT GIVES THE
GOVERNMENT THE POWER TO SPY ON
INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED
STATES WHO ARE NOT U.S.
CITIZENS OR PERMANENT RESIDENT
ALIENS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT
AGENTS SAN FRANCISCO OA FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT OR ANY TERRORIST
ORGANIZATION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS MEANS THAT
IF THOSE TARGETED HAVE ANY
INTERACTION WITH AN AMERICAN
CITIZEN, THEN THAT U.S. CITIZEN
IS SPIED UPON AS WELL.
WE ALREADY ALLOW SPYING ON SUCH
NONCITIZENS OUTSIDE THE UNITED
STATES OR EVEN IN THE UNITED
STATES WHERE THERE IS PROBABLE
CAUSE THAT THEY ARE AGENTS OF A
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OR MEMBERS
OF A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BUT
THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THAT
POWER WHICH COULD ENVELOP
ANYBODY SIMPLY AS A RESULT OF
THE OCCASION OF INTERACTING
WITH A TARGETED PERP EVEN WHILE
WE'RE IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE THIRD PROVISIONS GIVE THE
GOVERNMENT POWER TO INVIDE OUR
PRIVACY EVEN WHEN THERE'S NO
PROBABLE CAUSE OR REASONABLE
SUSPICION OR CELL EVIDENCE OF
ANY WRONGDOING AND WITHOUT
ALLEGING -- WITHOUT ALLOWING
THE KIND OF DETACHED OVERSIGHT
COVERED BY A COURT WARRANT WITH
CH IS GENERALLY REQUIRED WHEN
SUCH POWER IS EXTENDED.
COULD I GET AN ADDITIONAL 30
SECONDS?
THESE OVERSIGHT PROTECTIONS
EVEN AFTER THE FACT IN THE CASE
OF EMERGENCIES ALL THREE
PROVISIONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
EXPIRE UNLESS WE DEMONSTRATE IN
HEARINGS AND OVERSIGHT HEARINGS
THAT THESE POWERS ARE NECESSARY
AND NARROWLY TAILORED TO
ACHIEVE A COMPELLING NATIONAL
SECURITY INTEREST.
FREEDOMS AND PROTECTIONS OF
THESE -- THAT THESE PROVISIONS
TAKE AWAY ARE THE CORE OF OUR
VALUES AN LIBERTIES AND THEY
SHOULD NOT BE LEGISLATED AWAY
WITHOUT RIGOROUS OVERSIGHTS TO
PROTECT AGAINST ABUSE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND I
YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MACON SAME.
YOU
MAY PROCEED.
THERE'S BEEN SOME
CRITICISM TODAY OF THE BUSINESS
RECORDS PROVISION THAT GIVES
AGENCIES TOO MUCH ACCESS TO
CONFIDENTIAL RECORDS.
BUT SECTION 215 HAS MORE STRICT
REQUIREMENTS THAN GRAND JURY
SUBPOENAS USED IN CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIONS.
UNLIKE A GRAND JURY SUBPOENA,
WHICH IS NOT ISSUED BY A JUM, A
215 ORDER CAN ONLY BE USED BY A
FISA COURT JUDGE.
SECTION 215 ONLY GRANTS
INVESTIGATORS THE POWER TO GET
RECORDS HELD BY THIRD PARTIES
SUCH AS A HOTEL OR CAR RENTAL
RECORDS.
THERE'S BEEN CRITICISM THAT
SECTION 215 VIOLATES FOURTH
AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS AGAINST
UNREASONABLE SERGES AND
SEIZURES.
HOWEVER A REQUEST FOR BUSINESS
RECORDS HELD BY A THIRD PARTY
IS NOT A SEARCH UNDER THE
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
THE TARGET OF AN INVESTIGATION
DOES NOT OWN THE RECORDS AND
THEREFORE HAS NO REASONABLE
EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY IN THEM.
SECTION 215 CANNOT BE USED TO
ACQUIRE RECORDS OF U.S. PERSONS
BASED SOLELY ON FIRST AMENDMENT
PROTECTED ACTIVITY.
MR. SPEAKER, I'LL RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
NO ONE HAS WORKED
MORE CAREFULLY ON THIS MATTER
THAN DENNIS KUCINICH, THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
CLEVELAND WHO I YIELD TWO AND A
HALF MINUTES TO.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO.
THANK YOU, MR.
CONYERS, I APPRECIATE THAT I
CERTAINLY NEVER SEEK TO IMPUGN
THE FEELINGS OF THOSE WHO SAY
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE PATRIOT ACT
IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR
COUNTRY.
WE'RE ALL TAI PAIS TOTS HERE
AND WE WANT AMERICA TO BE
PROTECTED.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER OUR
CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE HERE.
THE REASON WHY WE HAVE A FOURTH
AMENDMENT THAT PROTECTS PEOPLE
FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND
SEIZURE BUT FROM UNWARRANTED
INTO THEIR LIVES.
INTRUSION BY THE GOVERNMENT
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR
CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND
ALL OF THE EFFORTS THAT MADE
AND BUILD UP TO IT, WE DIDN'T
HEAR GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME
A WIRETAP.
WE DEPARTMENT HEAR, DON'T TREAD
ON ME BUT IT'S OK TO SPY.
WHAT WE HEARD WAS A RINGING
DECLARATION ABOUT FREEDOM AN IT
WAS ENSHRINED IN THE
CONSTITUTION.
I STOOD ON THE FLOOR OF THE
HOUSE WAY BACK WHEN THE PATRIOT
ACT CAME FORWARD, VOTED AGAINST
IT BECAUSE I READ IT,
UNDERSTOOD THAT IT OPENED UP
THE DOOR FOR BROAD -- FOR A
BROAD REACH, THE POSSIBILITIES
OF BROAD REACH BY THE
GOVERNMENT INTO OUR DAILY
LIVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN
WHO IS MY FRIEND, CORRECTLY
POINTED OUT EARLIER THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATIONAL
SECURITY LETTERS AND THE
PATRIOT ACT.
BUT IT ALSO IS TRUE THAT
SECTION 5055 OF THE PATRIOT ACT
TISSUE 505 OF THE PAY TO THE
ACT GAVE THE GOVERNMENT THE
ABILITY TO GREATLY EXPAND WHO
COULD ISSUE A NATIONAL SECURITY
LETTER SO MUCH SO THAT NEARLY
50,000 NATIONAL SECURITY
LETTERS WERE ISSUED BY THE
F.B.I. IN, I THINK, 2006.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO USE SECTION
215 OF THE PATRIOT ACT THEY CAN
INVOKE THE NATIONAL SECURITY
LETTER AUTHORITY AND REACH INTO
PEOPLE'S FINANCIAL RECORDS,
MEDICAL RECORDS, THEIR READING
MATERIAL, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO
OUR COUNTRY?
WHY ARE WE GIVING UP OUR BASIC
LIBERTIES?
WE NEED TO TAKE A STAND HERE,
THIS IS AS GOOD A DAY AS ANY TO
TAKE A STAND.
MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS,
INCLUDING THOSE SUPPORTED BY MY
FREPPEDS IN THE TEA PARTY,
MAINTAIN THEIR GOAL IS TO GET
RID OF BIG GOVERNMENT.
GET GOVERNMENT OUT OF THEIR
LIVES.
HOW ABOUT THE PATRIOT ACT,
WHICH HAS THE BROADEST REACH
AND THE DEEPEST REACH OF
GOVERNMENT TO OUR DAILY LIVES?
SHOULDN'T WE BE THINKING ABOUT
THAT?
SOME WANT TO GET GOVERNMENT OUT
GET GOVERNMENT OUT OF
OF HEALTH CARE, SOME WANT TO
RETIREMENT SECURITY, HOW ABOUT
GETTING GOVERNMENT OUT OF
PEOPLE'S BEDROOMS, OUT OF
PEOPLE'S FINANCIAL RECORDS, OUT
OF PEOPLE'S MEDICAL RECORDS.
VOTE NO ON EXTENDING THE
PATRIOT ACT.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN, MR.
SENSENBRENNER, AS MUCH TIME AS
HE MAY CONSUME.
THERE'S BEEN
A LOT SAID ABOUT NATIONAL
SECURITY LETTERS.
THE AUTHORITY FOR THEM WAS MADE
PERMANENT IN 2006.
IT IS NOT A PART OF THIS BILL.
SO WE OUGHT TO COMPLETELY
FORGET ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS
ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY
LETTERS.
WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT IN THE
2006 RE-AUTHORIZATION OF THE
PATRIOT ACT, THERE WERE
PROVISIONS IN THE -- TO GIVE
RESIP YENS OF THE NATIONAL
SECURITY LETTER THE RIGHT TO
OBTAIN JUDICIAL REVIEW.
I'M PROUD OF THAT FACT BECAUSE
I THINK WHATEVER CONSTITUTIONAL
INFIRMITIES THERE WERE IN THE
THIS PART OF THE PATRIOT ACT
WERE SOLVED.
WE HEAR AN AWFUL LOT ABOUT NO
OVERSIGHT THE PEOPLE ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO ARE
COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO HAVE OVERSIGHT
HEARINGS.
THERE IS ONLY ONE OF THEM IN
THE LAST CONGRESS.
YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE NINE
SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS, THREE
FULL COMMITTEE HEARINGS AN THE
FULL MARKUP THAT WE HAD IN 2006
THE MAJORITY.
WHEN THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE HAD
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THE
OVERSIGHT HAVE BEEN THE
REPUBLICANS, NOT THE DEMOCRATS.
THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THIS LAW IS
MAKING AMERICANS SAFER ARE THE
REPUBLICANS, AND THE DEMOCRATS
ONCE AGAIN ARE COMPLAINING.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
MR. CONYERS.
MR. SPEAKER, I AM
PLEASED NOW TO RECOGNIZE MR.
RUSH HOLT OF NEW JERSEY FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
MR. SPEAKER, I THANK
THE GENTLEMAN.
THE POWERS OF INTELLIGENCE AND
ENFORCEMENT ARE AMONG THE MOST
IMPORTANT POWERS OF GOVERNMENT.
BUT ALSO THE MOST FEAR SOMDEV.
THEY MUST BE WIELDED VERY, VERY
CAREFULLY.
FOR DECADES OUR GOVERNMENT
ROUTINELY COLLECTED INFORMATION
ON POTENTIAL AND HAS COLLECTED
ON POTENTIAL FOREIGN THREATS
THROUGH VARIOUS FORMS OF
SURVEILLANCE.
THESE SELECTION ACTIVITIES ENJOY
BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN OUR
COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THEIR VALUE
AND HELPING TO PROTECT AMERICAN
CITIZENS AND INTERESTS.
HOWEVER, IN THE 1960'S AND
1970'S THESE COLLECTION
CAPABILITIES MP TURNED ON THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE -- WERE TURNED
ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND
AGENCIES ENGAGED IN SPYING ON
SOMETIMES EVEN FOR POLITICAL
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.
PURPOSES.
THE ENSUING PUBLIC BACKLASH
TRIGGERED THE ADOPTION OF LEGAL
REFORMS THAT GAVE US LAWS TO
HELP PREVENT A REPEAT OF THESE
ABUSES.
SUBSEQUENTLY THE TRAGEDY OF
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, GAVE
PROPONENTS EXTENDED DOMESTIC
SURVEILLANCE A POWERFUL
POLITICAL AND RHETORICAL WEAPON
WHICH THEY USED TO REDUCE
CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS
AGAINST SURVEILLANCE AND
SEIZURES WITHOUT APPROPRIATE
WARRANTS.
WHEN THE CONGRESS PASSED THE
PATRIOT ACT IN MARCH OF 2006 IT
INCLUDED SUNSET REQUIREMENTS,
THE THREE PROVISIONS YOU'VE
HEARD ABOUT TODAY.
SINCE 2005 I'VE VOTED AGAINST
EXTENDING THESE AND OTHER
PROVISIONS BECAUSE THESE
PROVISIONS ARE OVERLY BROAD AND
FREQUENTLY ABUSED, WHILE STILL
NOT IMPROVING TRULY THE SECURITY
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
MY CONCERNS ARE SUPPORTED BY THE
REVELATIONS OF ABUSES OF THOSE
AUTHORITIES DURING HEARINGS OF
THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IN
2009 AND IN MULTIPLE REPORTS
ISSUED BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY DOES
NOTHING TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS OR
PREVENT FUTURE ABUSES.
THIS BILL DOES NOT RAISE THE
STANDARDS FOR INTELLIGENCE
COLLECTION TO ENSURE THAT THE
RIGHT PEOPLE ARE TARGETED IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
THE LAW WAS NOT MEANT TO SUNSET
SO THAT WE COULD PERIODICALLY
RE-AUTHORIZE IT UNCHANGED.
WE'RE NOW ON THE VERGE OF THE
THIRD TEMPORARY EXTENSION.
WITH NO REMEDIES FOR THE FLAWS
IDENTIFIED BY THIS BODY AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INSPECTOR
GENERAL.
FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS --
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I URGE MEMBERS TO VOTE
NO.
CAN I REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL 30
SECONDS?