[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 16, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PATRIOT ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 12, 2001

  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to vehemently oppose H.R. 3081, the 
Anti-Terrorism bill. In this time of national emergency, Congress must 
work to provide law enforcement with the necessary capabilities to 
fight terrorists in the 21st century. However, Congress must also 
remember that we are dealing with very precious civil liberties that we 
must not trample.
  Today, Congress is considering greatly expanding the power of the 
federal government to access information and listen to the 
conversations of people in the United States. We are considering 
providing greater authority for law enforcement to tap phone lines, to 
track email and internet addresses, and to swap sensitive information. 
Issues with this magnitude require cautious consideration with ample 
time to ponder the consequences.
  After careful deliberation, House Judiciary Committee on October 11, 
2001 passed H.R. 2975, the ``Provide Appropriate Tools Required to 
Implement and Obstruct Terrorism (PATRIOT) Act.'' In fact, the 
committee recognized the importance of the subject matter and the 
potential consequences of the bill and passed H.R. 2975 unanimously. 
This bill enjoyed broad bipartisan support from the Judiciary Committee 
and members of the full House.
  However, in an end run around bipartisanship and the committee 
process, the House majority leadership brought a different and 
controversial bill to the floor without allowing time for committee 
consideration and without even giving Members time to figure out what 
the bill does. Actually, this new bill was being written at the same 
time that the House was supposed to be debating the bipartisan PATRIOT 
Act.
  The new 187-page bill contained some very distressing provisions. 
Under current law, search warrants must include very specific 
information including what is to be searched, who must cooperate, and 
who is the target of the search. A provision in the new bill would 
allow federal investigators to obtain search warrants without 
specifically naming each person who is involved. Another provision 
would allow federal authorities to obtain information like credit card 
numbers and bank account numbers with a subpoena, not a court order, as 
is the case under current law. Also, many of the provisions that expand 
the government's search and surveillance powers would not allow 
Congress to review the new powers until 2006.
  Yet, instead of bringing up a bipartisan bill that has worked its way 
through the committee process, the House Majority hastily brought a 
very large and complicated bill to the floor that could have serious 
consequences for the liberties of the American public. Congress must 
update its anti-terrorism laws for the 21st century, however, we must 
not sacrifice our civil liberties in a rush to vote on potentially 
dangerous legislation that has not been adequately reviewed by 
lawmakers.

                          ____________________