[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 16, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN M. McHUGH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 16, 2001

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I was called away from Washington on the 
evening of October 11th to attend to an ill family member. Due to my 
absence that evening and on Friday, October 12, I missed votes on the 
floor of the House of Representatives, including the vote on H.R. 2975, 
the Provide Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct 
Terrorism (PATRIOT) Act. Had I been present, I would have voted in 
support of the legislation and its worthy objective of providing law 
enforcement officials with additional tools to detect, apprehend, and 
prosecute terrorists.
  The horrific events of September 11th have demonstrated that more 
needs to be done to protect Americans from terrorism. At the same time, 
my colleagues and I are quite cognizant of our responsibilities in 
safeguarding the fundamental constitutional rights of the American 
people. The PATRIOT Act recognizes these concerns and strikes a balance 
between security enhancements and tools for law enforcement and civil 
liberties.

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