[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 60 (Saturday, April 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E776-E777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DON'T RUSH TO EXTEND PATRIOT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 11, 2003

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, recent news reports indicate that 
some are proposing that Congress make permanent some or all of the 
provisions of the ``USA PATRIOT Act'' now scheduled to expire at the 
end of 2005. I find that a matter of concern.
  Terrorist attacks must not go unanswered, and our law enforcement 
authorities need adequate tools to fight terrorists. However, I think 
that need must be carefully balanced with the need to preserve our 
civil liberties. In that context, I have had serious reservations about 
the additional authorities provided by the ``Patriot Act.''
  My concerns have been somewhat allayed by the fact that many 
provisions of the Act are not permanent. So, I share the view expressed 
by an editorial in today's Rocky Mountain News: ``The jury is still 
very much out on whether the Patriot Act and its administration are 
consistent with constitutional safeguards and basic civil liberties. 
The sunset provisions should stay and the law should be subjected to a 
strong dose of sunshine. ``
  For the information of our colleagues, I am attaching the full text 
of the editorial:

             [From the Rocky Mountain News, Apr. 11, 2003]

                    Don't Drop Sunset of Patriot Act

       As a precautionary measure to ensure that legislation works 
     as planned, Congress often adds a ``sunset'' date, meaning 
     that the targeted provisions of the law will expire after a 
     certain period unless Congress reauthorizes them.
       The idea is to ensure Congress returns to the law for a 
     thorough re-examination.
       Congress wisely added sunset provisions to the USA Patriot 
     Act, the anti-terrorism bill it passed one month after Sept. 
     11, 2001.
       That 342-page act gave federal law enforcement sweeping new 
     search-surveillance powers, including covert access to 
     computers and financial records--even the right to take a 
     secret peek at what's being checked out of the local library.

[[Page E777]]

       Congress has still not thoroughly examined how the act is 
     being used--or abused. But the sunset provisions don't kick 
     in until Dec. 31, 2005, so there's still plenty of time--
     except that congressional Republicans want to lift those 
     provisions now, making those broad new powers permanent.
       Why there's a sudden rush to make the Patriot Act permanent 
     is something of a puzzle. The old axiom ``act in haste, 
     repent at leisure'' comes to mind.
       The jury is still very much out on whether the Patriot Act 
     and its administration are consistent with constitutional 
     safeguards and basic civil liberties. The sunset provisions 
     should stay and the law should be subjected to a strong dose 
     of sunshine.

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