[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 124 (Friday, September 21, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9630-S9631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Grassley, Mr. 
        Leahy, and Ms. Cantwell):
  S. 1452. A bill to provide for electronic access by the Department of 
State and Immigration and Naturalization Service to certain information 
in the criminal history records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
to determine whether or not a visa applicant or applicant for admission 
has a

[[Page S9631]]

criminal record; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, it is a privilege to join my colleagues 
Senators Brownback, Leahy, Grassley, and Cantwell in introducing 
immigration legislation that will enhance our intelligence capabilities 
and improve our border security.
  These critical functions are an important part of the massive 
challenges now facing the country in the wake of last week's terrorist 
attacks. These functions are the shared responsibility of the FBI, the 
INS, and the State Department. This legislation will provide U.S. 
consular officers and the INS, including inspectors at our ports of 
entry, with electronic access to information located within certain FBI 
databases, such as the National Crime Information Center's Interstate 
Identification Index, the Wanted Persons File, and other files 
maintained by the National Crime Information Center. Electronic access 
to this information will enable the State Department and the INS to act 
immediately to identify high-risk criminals seeking admission to the 
United States or seeking other immigration benefits.
  Clearly, we must improve the security and intelligence capabilities 
of the Nation. But we must do so without violating the basic rights and 
liberties of the American people. Our legislation includes provisions 
to protect individual privacy. It authorizes the Secretary of State to 
draft regulations which will appropriately limit the use of the FBI's 
information. These regulations will require the information to be 
safeguarded from unnecessary dissemination, so that it is used only for 
the purpose of making decisions on the issuance or denial of visas or 
immigration benefits, and so that its confidentiality will be 
maintained to protect the privacy rights of those who are the subject 
of the information.
  These steps are needed now. We must also examine other ideas to 
improve safety at the Nation's borders and strengthen our overall 
ability as much as possible to prevent future terrorist attacks.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation.
                                 ______