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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?
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SPEAKER, WE HAVE NO OTHER
SPEAKERS ON THIS SIDE AND I'M
PREPARED TO CLOSE.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
MR. SPEAKER, I AM
PROUD NOW TO RECOGNIZE A SENIOR
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE FROM
HOUSTON, TEXAS, MS. SHEILA
JACKSON LEE, FOR TWO MINUTES.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS.
I THANK THE
DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN AND THE
RANKING MEMBER OF THIS
COMMITTEE.
AND I WANT TO REMIND MY
COLLEAGUES OF A SING IMPORTANT
MOMENT WHEN -- SINGLE IMPORTANT
MOMENT WHEN THOSE OF US WHO WERE
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT CAME
TOGETHER AFTER 9/11 AND OUT OF
THIS JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CAME A
SINGULAR INITIATIVE THAT DEALT
WITH THE CRISIS OF WHICH WE'RE
FACING.
I HAVE IN MY HAND THE
CONSTITUTION AND I'M REMINDED
THAT WHEN THE FOUNDING FATHERS
CAME TOGETHER AND DECLARED THAT
WE ALL WERE CREATED EQUAL, THEY
TOO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT TREASON
, SPYING, THE UNDERMINING OF
GOVERNMENT AND MAYBE EVEN THE
THREAT OF VIOLENCE AS WE WELL
KNOW HOW THIS COUNTRY CAME INTO
BEING, WE HAD TO FIGHT A WAR.
BUT YET THEY HAD IN THIS
CONSTITUTION THE RIGHTS OF THE
FOURTH AMENDMENT, THAT WE WOULD
BE PROTECTED AGAINST
UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE,
FIFTH AMENDMENT OF DUE PROCESS
AND THEY BELIEVED THAT AMERICANS
SHOULD BE PROTECTED.
THIS BILL, HOWEVER, COMES TO THE
FLOOR AGAIN WITHOUT AMENDMENTS
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT
OVER THE SERIES OF MY TENURE ON
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, I HAVE
SUBMITTED VERY VITAL AND
IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS TO PROTECT
THE CIVIL LIBERALS OF AMERICANS
BUT AS WELL TO RECOGNIZE THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF AWFUL US TO
SECURE THIS NATION.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE HOMELAND
SECURITY COMMITTEE.
I'M NOT UNMINDFUL OF THE
EVERYDAY THREATS THAT WE
RECEIVE.
BUT THIS BILL WOULD EXTEND
PROVISIONS THAT WERE CREATED IN
2005, THAT ALSO WERE INCLUDED IN
THE INTELLIGENCE REFORM BILL.
IT EXTENDS A PROVISION THAT
ALLOWS FOR A ROLLING ELECTRONIC
SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY AND A
PROVISION REVISING THE
DEFINITION OF AN AGENT OF
FOREIGN POLICY TO INCLUDE ANY
NON-U.S. PERSON WHO ENGAGES IN
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM OR
ACTIVITIES KNOWN AS THE LONE
WOLF.
WITHOUT PROTECTION.
AS A MEMBER OF THE HOMELAND
SECURITY, I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT
IS VITAL BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE A
VARIETY OF PROTECTIONS.
THE OTHER PROVISIONS, OF COURSE,
ARE ONES THAT INVADE PRIVACY,
CREATE A LACK OF RECOGNITION
ABIDE BY.
THAT WE HAVE A CONSTITUTION TO
SO I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES, AS
WE MOVE ON THIS LEGISLATION, TO
REMEMBER IT IS -- IT HAS NOT
BEEN AMENDED.
WE'VE LIVED ON A CONSTITUTION
THAT'S PROTECTED CIVIL LIBERTIES
AND ALSO REMEMBER IT TOOK A
LAWSUIT TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO EVEN
SAY THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN A
NATIONAL SECURITY LETTER.
WE MUST DO THINGS IN A
CONSTITUTION AL-MANAR, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
-- CONSTITUTIONAL MANNER, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I ASK MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON THIS
LEGISLATION, GO BACK TO THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND ABIDE BY
THE CONSTITUTION.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
MR. CONYERS.
I YIELD NOW TO THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA, A MEMBER OF THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THE
REMAINING TIME ON OUR SIDE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
WHICH IS 2 1/2
MINUTES.
I RISE.
WITHOUT IMPORTANT MODIFICATIONS
NECESSARY TO SAFEGUARD OUR CIVIL
LIBERTIES.
WHILE THE THREAT OF TERRORISM IS
REAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT MUST
HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT
AMERICANS, ANY COUNTERTERRORISM
MEASURE MUST HAVE A SOLID
CONSTITUTIONAL FOOTING AND
RESPECT FOR PRIVACY AND CIVIL
LIBERTIES OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
THIS LEGISLATION FAILS TO
ADDRESS SHORTCUMMINGS IN THE
ORIGINAL PATRIOT ACT LEGISLATION
-- SHORTCOMINGS IN THE ORIGINAL
PATRIOT ACT LEGISLATION AND FOR
IT.
THAT REASON I WILL VOTE AGAINST
ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS --
PROBLEMS WITH THIS BILL IS ITS
FAILURE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUANCE
AND USE OF NATIONAL SECURITY
LETTERS.
THESE LETTERS PERMIT THE
GOVERNMENT TO OBTAIN THE
COMMUNICATIONS OF ANYONE DEEMED
RELEVANT TO A TERRORISM
INVESTIGATION, EVEN IF THAT
PERSON IS NOT SUSPECTED OF
UNLAWFUL BEHAVIOR.
IF CONGRESS RE-AUTHORIZES THESE
PROVISIONS WITH NO CHANGES
AMERICANS WILL REMAIN SUBJECT TO
WARRANTLESS INTRUSIONS INTO
THEIR PERSONAL AFFAIRS.
A GROSS OVERREACH OF FEDERAL
INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY THAT
SHOULD NOT OR THAT COULD BE
ABUSED.
IN THE COUNTRY.
IT'S JUST NOT HOW WE DO THINGS
RATHER THAN TAKING THE TIME TO
CRAFT REFORMS THAT WOULD BETTER
PROTECT PRIVATE CITIZENS'
COMMUNICATIONS AND PRIVACY FROM
OVERBROAD GOVERNMENT
SURVEILLANCE, THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY SIMPLY WANTS TO CRAM
THIS BILL THROUGH WITHOUT
PROVIDING ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR
ANYONE TO OFFER AMENDMENTS THAT
WILL IMPROVE THE BILL.
WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT NEEDS NEW TOOLS TO
KEEP UP WITH 21ST CENTURY
THREATS, BUT SURELY IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF CONGRESS TO
RE-EXAMINE LEGISLATION THAT WAS
HURRIEDLY PASSED THROUGH
CONGRESS IN THE WAKE OF 9/11, TO
MAKE SURE IT LIVES UP TO OUR
NATIONAL IDEALLESS.
BECAUSE THIS BILL FAILS TO
CONTAIN ANY CHECKS AND BALANCES
TO PREVENT LAW ENFORCEMENT ABUSE
AND PROTECT CIVIL LIBERTIES, I
WILL BE VOTING AGAINST IT AND I
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE
SAME, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. SMITH.
7 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M
PREPARED TO CLOSE WHEN THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
ALL THE TIME FROM THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MICHIGAN IS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS HAS 7
1/2 MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
MYSELF THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
MR. SPEAKER, EXTENDING THE
EXPIRING PROVISIONS OF THE
PATRIOT ACT WILL ENSURE THAT
AMERICA'S LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS AND TENSE AGENTS ARE
EQUIPPED TO IDENTIFY TERRORIST
THREATS AND PREVENT TERRORIST
ACTS.
THE PATRIOT ACT IS AN EFFECTIVE
TOOL IN THE WAR ON TERROR.
AS TERRORISTS SHOW NO SIGNS OF
ENDING THEIR PLOTS, NEITHER
SHOULD OUR LAWS THAT STOP THEM
BE ALLOWED TO SUNSET.
THIS TEMPORARY EXTENSION WILL
FACILITATE FURTHER REVIEW AND
RE-AUTHORIZATION OF THESE
PROVISIONS AND, MR. SPEAKER,
THIS EXTENSION IS SUPPORTED BY
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS EXTENSION AS WELL AND YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
514.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3
OF THOSE VOTING HAVING RESPONDED
IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES
ARE SUSPENDED --
MR. SPEAKER, ON
THIS VOTE I ASK FOR A ROLL CALL.
THE
GENTLEMAN REQUESTS THE YEAS AND
NAYS.
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING
THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS
WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING
UNTIL COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
AND PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE
20, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE
A COMMUNICATION.
THE HONORABLE THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT
TO THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON
THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES ACT OF
1965, 20 U.S.C. 955 B-NOTE, I'M
PLEASED TO REAPPOINT BETTY
MCCOLLUM OF MINNESOTA TO THE
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON ARTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO
THIS APPOINTMENT.
SIGNED SINCERELY, NANCY PELOSI,
HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER.
THE
CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A
COMMUNICATION.
THE HONORABLE THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT
TO SECTION 4404-C-2 OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL HUNGER FELLOWS ACT
OF 2002 2 U.S.C. I AM PLEASED TO
REAPPOINT MR. JAMES P. MCGOVERN
OF MASSACHUSETTS TO THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES TO THE CONGRESSIONAL
HUNGER FELLOWS PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO
THIS APPOINTMENT.
SIGNED SINCERELY, NANCY PELOSI,
HOUSE DEPARTMENT LEADER.
THE
CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A
COMMUNICATION.
THE HONORABLE THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT
TO SECTION 4-D OF HOUSE
RESOLUTION 5 111TH CONGRESS, I
AM PLEASED TO APPOINT THE
FOLLOWING MEMBERS TO THE HOUSE
DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP.
THE HONORABLE DAVID E. PRICE OF
NORTH CAROLINA, THE HONORABLE
LOIS CAPS OF CALIFORNIA, RUSH D.
HOLT OF NEW JERSEY, THE
HONORABLE ALLISON SCHWARTZ OF
PENNSYLVANIA, THE HONORABLE
DONALD M. PAYNE OF NEW JERSEY,
THE HONORABLE SAM FARR OF
CALIFORNIA, THE HONORABLE KEITH
ELLISON OF MINNESOTA, THE
HONORABLE MACEY HIRONO OF
HAWAII.
THE HONORABLE ROYBAL-ALLARD OF
CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO
THESE APPOINTMENTS.
SIGNED, SINCERELY, NANCY PELOSI,
HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER.
AND --
AND THE
HOUSE LAYS BEFORE -- THE CHAIR
LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A
CHUNECATION -- COMMUNICATION.
THE HONORABLE, THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT
TO SECTION 4 OF THE RONALD
REAGAN CENTENNIAL COMMISSION
ACT, PUBLIC LAW 111-25, I AM
PLEASED TO APPOINT THE HONORABLE
COMMISSION.
SYLVESTER REYES OF TEXAS FOR THE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
OF THIS APPOINTMENT.
SIGNED, SINCERELY, NANCY PELOSI,
HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE
1, THE CHAIR DECLARES THE HOUSE
IN RECESS UNTIL APPROXIMATELY