[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 100 (Thursday, July 21, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H6210-H6220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3199, USA PATRIOT AND TERRORISM
PREVENTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I
call up House Resolution 369 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 369
Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this
resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule
XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of
the bill (H.R. 3199) to extend and modify authorities needed
to combat terrorism, and for other purposes. The first
reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of
order against consideration of the bill are waived. General
debate shall be confined to the bill and the amendments made
in order by this resolution and shall not exceed two hours,
with one hour and 30 minutes equally divided and controlled
by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee
on the Judiciary and 30 minutes equally divided and
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. After general
debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the
five-minute rule. In lieu of the amendments recommended by
the Committee on the Judiciary and the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence now printed in the bill, it shall
be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose
of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the
nature of a substitute printed in part A of the report of the
Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. That
amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be considered
as read. All points of order against that amendment in the
nature of a substitute are waived. Notwithstanding clause 11
of rule XVIII, no amendment to that amendment in the nature
of a substitute shall be in order except those printed in
part B of the report of the Committee on Rules. Each
amendment may be offered only in the order printed in the
report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the
report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for
the time specified in the report equally divided and
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be
subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand
for division of the question in the House or in the Committee
of the Whole. All points of order against such amendments are
waived. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for
amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the
House with such amendments as may have been adopted. Any
Member may demand a separate vote in the House on any
amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole to the bill
or to the amendment in the nature of a substitute made in
order as original text. The previous question shall be
considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to
final passage without intervening motion except one motion to
recommit with or without instructions.
[[Page H6211]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rehberg). The gentleman from Georgia
(Mr. Gingrey) is recognized for 1 hour.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the
customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter),
pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During
consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose
of debate only.
Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 369 is a structured rule that provides 2 hours
of general debate; 1 hour and 30 minutes is equally divided and
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee
on the Judiciary and 30 minutes equally divided and controlled by the
chairman and ranking minority member of the Permanent Select Committee
on Intelligence. It waives all points of order against consideration of
the bill.
Further, it provides that in lieu of the amendments recommended by
the Committee on the Judiciary and the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence now printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a
substitute printed in part A of the Committee on Rules report shall be
considered as the original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall
be considered as read. It waives all points of order against the
amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of the
Committee on Rules report.
It makes in order only those amendments printed in part B of the
Committee on Rules report which may be offered only in the order
printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in
the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the
time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the
proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall
not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or
in the Committee of the Whole.
It waives all points of order against the amendments printed in part
B of the Committee on Rules report, and it provides one motion to
recommit with or without instructions.
Mr. Speaker, I rise this somber day in support of both House
Resolution 369 and the underlying bill, H.R. 3199, the USA PATRIOT and
Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005. Mr. Speaker, I would
first like to extend my condolences and prayers to the people of
Britain who once again have fallen prey to terrorist bombs. I remain
confident in not only the resolve of the British Government led by Tony
Blair, but also the resolve of the British people to stand firm against
these cowards.
As we consider our own measures against terrorism today, let us not
forget our commitment to not only the protection of our homeland but
also the protection of our allies. I would like to take this
opportunity to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner),
the distinguished chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary and the
author of H.R. 3199, and, of course, the ranking member, the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Conyers).
I would also like to thank the chairman of the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra),
and the ranking member, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman),
for their leadership on such an important piece of legislation.
After 4 years of thorough hearings and extensive oversight, H.R. 3199
represents a collaborative effort to fine-tune our law enforcement
needs and to ensure the continuation of necessary protections created
by the 2001 USA PATRIOT Act. Additionally, through its important
oversight role, this Congress has also demonstrated a clear commitment
to achieving the essential and proper balance between necessary
protective measures and our cherished civil liberties.
Mr. Speaker, like most legislation considered before this House, H.R.
3199 is not perfect; and in an ideal world, it would not be necessary.
However, today's world is sadly far from ideal and America faces a
grave threat from a cowardly enemy that operates under the cover of
shadows biding its time with the intent to kill innocent people in the
name of an ideology of hate. These murdering terrorists lack any sense
of decency. They have absolutely no respect for either human life or
the rule of law.
Therefore, it is imperative that this Congress act decisively and
deliberately to update and extend those statutes guaranteeing law
enforcement has every tool it needs to combat these terrorists and
bring them to justice.
When Congress first enacted the USA PATRIOT Act in 2001, it did so of
course in response to the attacks of 9/11. Congress included in this
legislation many sunset provisions to ensure an opportunity to review
and address the effectiveness of these additional law enforcement
capabilities after their enactment. Having performed these necessary
reviews with substantial bipartisan involvement and testimony, both the
Committee on the Judiciary and the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence have produced a bill today that will strengthen our
ability to fight the war on terrorism here at home.
Since the events of 9/11, our American law enforcement and
intelligence operations, along with our international partners, have
identified and disrupted over 150 terrorist threats and cells with the
help of the tools provided by the USA PATRIOT Act. Additionally, H.R.
3199 reflects a continued need of law enforcement to respond to an
ever-changing technological landscape.
Mr. Speaker, terrorists are not relying on courier pigeons and rotary
telephones to coordinate their acts of destruction. While cellular
telephones and the Internet make our everyday lives simpler, they also
provide terrorists with new opportunities to move quickly among the
shadows while still communicating with their counterparts. Therefore,
H.R. 3199 will make sure law enforcement and intelligence authorities
still have the ability to track terrorists through the use of
multipoint or roving wire taps that follow the terrorists rather than
the telephone.
Additionally, H.R. 3199 will allow the law enforcement, intelligence,
and national defense community to communicate and coordinate among each
other to protect the American people and our national security.
Unnecessary barriers should never be allowed to compromise American
safety. For the most part, the USA PATRIOT Act did not create any new
law enforcement capabilities, but rather extended techniques that we
were using against mobsters and drug dealers to terrorists. If law
enforcement can use these tools to catch some street-corner dope
pusher, then it should be allowed to use these tools against suspected
terrorists.
Mr. Speaker, I must also say that I have heard from many people back
home in the 11th District of Georgia who express some concerns about
this legislation. While they want our law enforcement to have the tools
they need, they remain cautious, even dubious of additional government
power.
To that point I recently received a letter from David Nahmias. Mr.
Nahmias is a United States Attorney for the Northern District of
Georgia. With respect to the USA PATRIOT Act he wrote: ``From my
perspective as a prosecutor on the front lines of the fight against
terrorism, it is difficult to overstate how important the USA PATRIOT
Act has been to the government's ability to preserve and protect our
Nation's liberty in the face of continuing terrorist threats.''
His Deputy U.S. Attorney is my good friend, Jim Martin. With over 25
years' experience as a Federal prosecutor, he also assured me in a
private conversation of the success of and the need to preserve the
PATRIOT Act.
Mr. Nahmias goes on to write how the provisions from this act aided
in recovering a 13-year-old girl who had been lured and held captive by
a man she met online.
Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues, including the distinguished
chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, I am also concerned and in
all honesty extremely hesitant to grant additional powers to the
government. However, I believe that we in this Congress will continue
to remain vigilant, continue to execute necessary and thorough
oversight so that our constitutionally protected civil liberties will
never be jeopardized or diminished in the fight to stop terrorism and
to protect the American people.
That said, I would like to emphasize that since its enactment, there
have been zero, and let me repeat zero,
[[Page H6212]]
verified instances of civil liberty abuses under the USA PATRIOT Act
found by the Inspector General of the Justice Department. And I firmly
hope as we move forward with H.R. 3199 and we continue to operate under
the PATRIOT Act that that statistic will remain intact.
Mr. Speaker, I would again like to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin
(Chairman Sensenbrenner); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers),
the ranking member; the gentleman from Michigan (Chairman Hoekstra);
and the ranking member, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman),
all for their dedicated work and commitment to both the liberties of
the American people and the needs of law enforcement and the
intelligence community. Their efforts on this crucial issue are
laudable, indeed, heroic, and they are to be commended.
I remain confident that this Congress will continue to stay on top of
our security needs and continue to work for a stronger, freer America.
I want to encourage all of my colleagues to support this rule and the
underlying bill for the sake of a secure Nation and the safety of the
American people.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Ms. SLAUGHTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, permit me first to say this morning that
our thoughts and prayers are with our friends in London who today are
coping with what seems to be a second terrorist attack in 2 weeks.
Thankfully, the causalities appear to be minimal. And my colleagues and
I in this House offer our most sincere hope that no one in London will
have to suffer this pain again associated with the abominable actions
taken 2 weeks ago and unsuccessfully attempted again today.
I would like to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) for
yielding me the customary 30 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in defense of nothing less than our
national security, but national security is not just about protecting
our borders. It is also about protecting our freedoms.
All of my colleagues understand that the PATRIOT Act has provided the
law enforcement agencies with many valuable tools which facilitate
their work in the struggle against terrorism. But with these new tools
comes a very real danger that the liberty we seek to protect could be
easily compromised in the overzealous pursuit of greater security. This
struggle strikes at the heart of the debate over the legislation before
us today. And while the restrictive rule we are debating this morning
has allowed us to improve the PATRIOT Act in several important ways,
the leadership has chosen to prohibit open debate in consideration of
the most sensitive, controversial, and important issues that surround
this bill.
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I would also add that today we are considering the 32nd rule this
year that has either been closed or severely restricted. It is ironic
that on consideration of a bill which seeks to protect our freedoms,
our freedom to debate and amend the legislation has been strictly
curtailed, as is too often the case in this body.
Mr. Speaker, when the PATRIOT Act was passed in 2001, 16 provisions
were set to expire in 5 years because some of them could possibly be
used to violate the very freedoms our young men and women in uniform
too often die to protect. These provisions provide the executive branch
of this government with unprecedented powers of search, seizure and
surveillance, too often without the due process we are guaranteed under
our Constitution.
By party line votes, the Republicans on the Committee on Rules at the
direction of the leadership refused to allow consideration of critical
amendments that address these issues, and there are four particular
issues I want to discuss this morning, reforms which Democrats believe
are critical.
First, we are not considering a provision to allow people who are not
terrorists to challenge the government when the FBI wants to sift
through their personal information, including their private medical
records. But we should be.
Second is the fact that the important work of the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence was cast aside by the House leadership. The
version of the bill voted out of the committee on a near unanimous vote
in that committee included a provision which allowed for a sunset
review of the Lone Wolf provision of this bill, which was not included
in the final version.
We are also not considering an amendment that would properly restrict
the government's ability to come into your home when you are not there
and execute a warrant, and even remove property without notifying you
until later, if at all, an officially sanctioned breaking and entering
if you will. Now, that remains perfectly legal under this bill because
the Republican leadership would not allow the amendments to change it.
But perhaps most importantly, we are not even allowed to consider an
amendment that would require Congress to do its job and fulfill our
responsibility to the American people by going back and taking a look
at these laws every few years because the leadership decided that none
of them can be considered today by the Congress, even though they deal
with the most sensitive and important security and civil liberty issues
we face in this country today.
The chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary stated last night in
the Committee on Rules that sunset review is not necessary in the
future because he and his staff are providing all the oversight needed
of the Justice Department, the FBI, and the PATRIOT Act. With all due
respect to the esteemed chairman, I do not think that is enough of a
safeguard for the American people to accept in this case. After all, we
will not have the benefit of his leadership and wisdom forever, and
this Congress has a duty to consider and provide for the future. Our
ability to ensure the proper oversight and protection of liberty must
be larger in scope than the career or judgment of a single individual.
Also, agencies have proven to be more responsive to congressional
oversight when a sunset review is looming on the horizon. The chairman
has even acknowledged that the Justice Department has been
uncooperative in his attempts to conduct the appropriate reviews and
oversight of the bill thus far.
We have evidence which suggests, in contrast to information coming
out of the Justice Department, that many of these measures have
resulted in the violation of the civil liberties of American citizens.
In addition, we understand that some of the extended search and seizure
powers used by the law enforcement are apparently not being used for
their intended purpose, which is strictly to fight terrorism, and that
is unacceptable.
Whether this information is true or not, the fact remains that an
honest discrepancy exists, and that is reason enough to ensure proper
congressional oversight and why we should include sunset provisions in
the bill. The Republicans support sunset review for the EPA, it is in
the President's 2006 budget, but not for the PATRIOT Act. The idea of
these measures was always that they would be temporary, and yet they
are seeking to make them last forever.
Mr. Speaker, forever is an awful long time. We would do well to
remember that they were passed into law in the frantic weeks after
September 11, hastily, without our understanding of their potential
impact or benefit, and that is why we created a sunset review in the
first place and why we need a sunset review as long as these incredible
powers are in place.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have
remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rehberg). The gentleman from Georgia has
20 minutes remaining.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren), a member of the committee.
Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the
gentleman for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, if this rule is adopted, the House of Representatives
will consider the extension of the USA PATRIOT Act. The ultimate fate
of this legislation will determine how effective we will be in
investigating the
[[Page H6213]]
clandestine activities of terrorist organizations and in preventing
catastrophic events in the future.
There is, Mr. Speaker, no greater or more solemn responsibility that
we have as representatives of the American people. And, frankly, I have
been astonished at the characterization of the bill and the record of
the Justice Department. As a member of the committee and the
subcommittee of jurisdiction, the Subcommittee on Crime of the
Committee on the Judiciary, I have spent countless hours going over the
records, including looking at top secret reports that are lodged with
this Congress, and I will state for the record I can find no evidence
of a violation of civil liberties. And I would suggest any Member who
comes to the floor be very careful about suggesting that there are,
without evidence.
That is a criticism of our Department of Justice, that is a criticism
of our investigative agencies and our intelligence agencies that is not
borne out by the record. I think we should make that very clear,
particularly today when we have another instance, presumably, in
London, of what we are facing. This is serious business, and
allegations that are easily thrust in this body, in my judgment, are
irresponsible.
I authored the amendment in the Committee on the Judiciary to require
two sunsets of the two most controversial provisions in this bill, but
I did not do that based on any suggestion there is any record of a
violation of civil liberties. I did that because, it seems to me, it
was an indication to the public from us that we would consider doing
effective oversight, which we have done.
Some have suggested in 1-minutes this morning that there is something
wrong with the process here. I do not understand that. Now, I have been
absent for 16 years, but I can recall how things were done 20 years
ago. In the Committee on the Judiciary, with respect to this bill, the
bill was available on a Friday. We marked it up on a Wednesday. I can
recall being a member of that committee when I was in the minority when
we received the bill on the midnight before we were supposed to
consider things. This is hardly a wrong or improper process.
Mr. Speaker, we considered over 50 amendments in the Committee on the
Judiciary. We on the majority side were willing to stay there for
several more days. It was the minority who made the motion to call the
previous question and withdrew consideration of more amendments on
their side. This is a structured bill that has something on the order
of 20 amendments available, covering many of the issues that people are
concerned about. I would hardly suggest that we are moving with undue
dispatch here or that somehow we are not considering this in proper
order.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the minority whip.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule, but before
I speak on the rule itself, let me say to our friends in Great Britain,
one of our strongest allies in the fight against terrorism, we are with
you. We empathize with the pain that has been visited upon you once
again. We are in this fight against terrorists together.
Everybody on this floor views themselves and acts as a patriot on
behalf of America, its values, and its people. All 435 Members of this
House. They will see things differently as we consider this bill, but
they are all 100 percent committed to defeating terrorism, to ferreting
out terrorists, to getting them off our streets, out of our country and
incarcerated, as they should be. Make no mistake about the commonality
of that commitment. I know that the Members of this House on both sides
of the aisle are united in that commitment.
Today, on this House floor the American people will see no division
in our willingness to do what is necessary to fight terrorism. What
they will see today, however, Mr. Speaker, is an abuse of power by the
Republican majority, which has deliberately and purposefully chosen to
stifle a full debate on this critical legislation.
I voted for the PATRIOT Act. I think we need to reauthorize the
sections involved, but we ought to look at them carefully. A Republican
rule that has been offered today is nothing less, and I use my words
carefully, than a craven failure of our congressional oversight
responsibility on legislation that involves the government's power to
intrude on the lives of Americans. We must protect Americans, we must
confront terrorists, but we must also ensure our constitutional values.
Every single year, Mr. Speaker, this Congress reauthorizes the
Department of Defense programs. This reauthorization process allows us
to assess, reexamine, and to recalibrate our defense policies to
changing circumstances. Today, however, we are being asked to give up
that oversight responsibility and permanently authorize many sections
of this bill.
Now, let me make it clear to the public that the overwhelming
majority of the PATRIOT Act is in law right now and will not be
affected by this legislation. Sixteen sections only are the subject of
this legislation. We are being asked to extend two provisions,
particularly one that involves roving wiretaps, and the other dealing
with the FBI's power to demand business records for 10 years.
Democrats have suggested we ought to sunset these provisions. Why are
you afraid to have a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives
on that provision? Why are you fearful? Why do you fear the democratic
process? I do not know.
The Sanders amendment. You failed to offer that, yet 238 Members of
this House, just days ago, voted for that provision. Why are you afraid
to have another vote on the floor? Are you afraid you cannot get your
Members to change their minds? Are you afraid of the democratic process
in this, the people's House? Do you undermine that democracy which we
confront terrorists for doing?
My friends, this rule is not consistent with the open democratic
process in adopting one of the most important bills that we will
consider. I agree with the gentleman from California. That is why I
voted for the PATRIOT Act, to give law enforcement the capability and
assurance we could confront and catch terrorists and protect Americans
in our country, but we should have come with a better rule. It is
lamentable that we did not.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Coble).
Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for
yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, about 9 or 10 months ago, a constituent of mine
approached me back home and he said, Howard, we have got to get rid of
this PATRIOT Act. I said, give me one example of how the PATRIOT Act
has adversely affected you. He said, well, I cannot do that. I said,
give me an example of how the PATRIOT Act has adversely affected anyone
known to you. He said, well, I cannot do it. I said, you are not
helping me.
I am afraid, Mr. Speaker, that this is how the PATRIOT Act has been
portrayed: Accusations of compromising our freedoms, but virtually no
hard facts or evidence to support these accusations. And at the
conclusion of our conversation, my constituent said to me, well, I
guess maybe I have heard wrong information. I said, well, if you cannot
come forward with anything other than just rank hearsay that is
unsupported, I am going to have to embrace your conclusion.
The Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security hosted
nine public hearings. The full House Committee on the Judiciary,
furthermore, hosted three public hearings. Now, this is one dozen
public hearings, Mr. Speaker, where the PATRIOT Act was the beneficiary
or the target of an exhaustive, deliberate examination, in detail.
{time} 1100
Are we thoroughly and completely safe today? No. Are we safer today
than we were prior to 9/11? Unquestionably.
One of those reasons, Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, is the presence of
the PATRIOT Act. The PATRIOT Act has indeed broadened the parameters
through which and under which law enforcement and public safety
officers are allowed to work.
Compromising freedoms? No evidence of it. The hearings indicated no
abuse on the part of the Federal Government, the U.S. Government, to
protect us. I have the fear that one of these days these evil people
driven by fanaticism
[[Page H6214]]
will attack us again, but they have not since 9/11; and I think for
that we should all be very thankful, and I think for that we should
attribute some of that to the presence of the PATRIOT Act.
I urge the passage of this rule, Mr. Speaker. Again I thank the
gentleman from Georgia for having yielded time to me.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), a member of the Rules Committee.
Mr. McGOVERN. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this restrictive rule, and
I rise in opposition to the underlying bill. Protecting our homeland
from another terrorist attack is among the most important priorities we
face. We must support our law enforcement officials by providing them
with the proper resources and modern technologies to combat terrorism.
There is a delicate balance that must be maintained between security
and liberty. I believe that this bill sacrifices too much of our
liberty.
I know there is a lot of anguish in the House today about this bill.
This morning's incidents on the London subway only serve to heighten
that anxiety. But democracy takes courage, Mr. Speaker. It takes the
courage not to abandon our most deeply held principles. It takes the
courage not to subject our citizens to unwarranted intrusions into
their privacy. It takes the courage to say to the terrorists, You will
not succeed in changing our way of life.
Mr. Speaker, I hear all the time from all types of people that 9/11
has changed everything. I hope not, Mr. Speaker. I hope that those
terrible attacks have not served to undermine our Constitution, to
weaken our respect for civil liberties, to chip away at the values that
not only make this country unique but also make us a beacon of hope for
the rest of the world. While the government should be provided with the
necessary resources to protect the homeland, it should not be given a
free pass to threaten and abuse the rights and liberties of our own
citizens. Safeguards are key, and Congress in its vital function of
oversight is one of government's most important safeguards.
Many of the provisions in the PATRIOT Act were sunsetted back in 2001
so that Congress could evaluate and fix them if necessary. These time
limits on certain provisions serve as critical checks on the executive
branch. They serve as a reminder that Congress is paying attention and
that if the new powers are abused, they will not be renewed. We know
from our own history that abuses of law enforcement powers are all too
common. We must remember the wiretaps and secret surveillance on
leaders in the civil rights and antiwar movements, and we must vow to
never let those abuses happen again.
Some of the powers granted to the executive branch in this bill are
simply too broad: secret surveillance of library and bookstore records;
roving wiretaps; sneak-and-peek searches; and overly broad subpoena
power. However, I realize there is little chance of removing the
majority of these dangerous provisions from this bill. At the very
least, I urge my colleagues to fulfill their responsibilities and vote
to sunset all of these provisions again for a short period of time.
Further, since the PATRIOT Act was adopted, Congress has received far
too little information about its uses. How can we make these provisions
permanent when the Department of Justice, FBI, and other government
agencies will not report to Congress or the American people how these
provisions are being implemented?
Mr. Speaker, privacy is not a convenient luxury. It is a fundamental
right. We need a bill that achieves the appropriate balance between
liberty and security, a bill that combats terrorism vigilantly, but
that is also consistent with the rights and liberties provided in the
Constitution of the United States. In my opinion, this bill is not it.
I fear that if this bill becomes law, a part of our tree of liberty
will die.
I urge my colleagues to oppose this restrictive rule, and I urge my
colleagues to oppose the legislation.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
In reference to a comment made a little bit earlier, not by the
previous speaker but by the distinguished minority whip concerning his
concern over the fact that the Sanders amendment was not made in order,
I want to point out the bipartisan amendment by the gentleman from
California (Mr. Schiff) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake),
that is amendment No. 59 that was made in order and that will be
debated later on this afternoon, stating that the director of the FBI
must personally approve any library or bookstore request for records by
the FBI under section 215.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from West Virginia
(Mrs. Capito), my colleague on the Rules Committee.
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague on the Rules Committee
for yielding me this time, and I would like to say this is a good
debate not only that we are having right now but that we will have
throughout the day on a very important act, that being the USA PATRIOT
Act. I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying
legislation.
The USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005
provides America with the necessary tools to protect our homeland from
terrorist threats while maintaining our cherished freedoms. I would
like to say in discussion on what occurred in the Rules Committee, the
minority asked that we extend the debate on the PATRIOT Act to 2 hours,
and we are going to be seeing that later this afternoon. I think the
PATRIOT Act is debated every day in the Halls not only of Congress but
workplaces, certainly law enforcement officers; and I think all of us
are trying to strike that balance between protecting personal liberties
and protecting the homeland. Times have changed.
In this bill that we are about to consider, we will be considering an
amendment that I am putting forth. The amendment that I wish to address
is extremely timely today, unfortunately, for those living in Great
Britain in that it will reform the wrecking trains statute of 1940 to
impose greater penalties for those who seek to terrorize individuals on
mass transportation, particularly trains. We are seeing this morning
the news out of London that another attack has been orchestrated,
although I did not see the details of exactly who and what is
accountable for that. But it sends shivers down the spine, I think, of
every American knowing the pain and suffering that is going on in
London as we speak.
It is important in this amendment that I am going to be offering to
realize that current legal practices are not punitive enough to be any
kind of a deterrent to anybody who is considering a massive or a large
attack on trains or mass transportation. So I think we can agree that
more stringent penalties would be in order.
I support this rule, I support the debate that we are going to see
going forth, and I support the reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), a member of the Rules
Committee.
(Ms. MATSUI asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, the PATRIOT Act was passed in October 2001
in response to the horrendous terrorist attacks on our country. Its aim
was to give the women and men of our law enforcement community the
authority and tools needed to prevent future attacks and save and
secure the lives of American citizens.
There is no question, Mr. Speaker, that many of the provisions of the
PATRIOT Act have been useful to law enforcement and have helped to
prevent terrorist attacks and secure our Nation. But we must also be
vigilantly aware that some of the provisions of the PATRIOT Act have
the potential to be abused and violate the civil liberties of innocent
American citizens, the same citizens it is meant to protect. Congress
understood this when it passed the PATRIOT Act and required that 16
provisions of the act be made to sunset, forcing us to revisit them.
I am very proud to be standing here today with the opportunity to
debate the fine balance that must be struck between security and civil
liberties. The acts of September 11 were not the
[[Page H6215]]
only events in our history where our Nation's leaders were asked to
strike this balance. During World War II, under the banner of security,
the civil liberties of 120,000 Japanese Americans vanished. I clearly
know how deeply this affected my parents, both American citizens born
and raised in this country.
Mr. Speaker, once again we are in a time of crisis. I implore all of
us to proceed with caution. It is this type of bill, one that affects
the most cherished rights we have as Americans, that requires constant
and vigilant oversight by Congress. That is our duty. The surest way to
ensure this oversight is to place sunsets on those provisions of the
legislation that can be abused. Unfortunately, this bill places sunsets
on only two of the original 16 provisions, making the rest permanent.
I also have concern about what this measure does not address, the
ability to secure library records and allow sneak-and-peek searches.
These provisions are wrought with great potential for abuse. Mr.
Speaker, the civil liberties of the American people are too important
and the potential for abuse too great for us not to place sunsets on
all of the 16 provisions. Like our Constitution, our liberties are a
symbol of America. The freedoms in our country are known throughout the
world. What we do today sends a message throughout the world. We here
in this body have a sacred responsibility to protect what our Nation
stands for. We are certainly responsible for the safety of this Nation,
but we are also certainly responsible for shaping the laws that
determine what it means to be an American.
Mr. Speaker, all of us agree that we must do all we can to secure and
protect the United States, but we must also be mindful of those rights
and privileges upon which this great Nation was founded.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the distinguished chairman of
the Rules Committee.
(Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule and
the underlying legislation, the USA PATRIOT Act. I want to thank and
congratulate my colleague from Georgia for his fine management of this
very important rule. We obviously are at a critical juncture in our
Nation's history. September 11 changed the world for all of us here,
and it changed the rest of the world. Obviously, what happened 2 weeks
ago today in London made a big change for them and what is going on at
this moment in London brought about a big change for them. We have made
a commitment that, because of the fact that we are in the midst of a
global war on terror, we need to do everything within our power to
redouble our efforts to ensure that we win that global war on terror.
We passed the PATRIOT Act, Mr. Speaker, 6 weeks after September 11 of
2001. At that time, I was very insistent on the need for sunset
provisions. In fact, I remember going at it with our former colleague,
now the Director of Central Intelligence, Porter Goss. He was not a
strong proponent of sunset provisions at that time. And I said: we are
so close to the tragic day of September 11 that it is absolutely
essential that we ensure that we are doing the right thing with this
legislation. And we are obviously passing it under the immediate shadow
of September 11, and so it seems to me that it is the right thing for
us to do to sunset the provisions here.
{time} 1115
We have gone through this nearly 5-year period, and we have looked
for the issue that my colleague the gentlewoman from Sacramento (Ms.
Matsui) raised as the number one priority concern, the civil liberties
of the American people.
I consider myself a small ``l'' libertarian Republican. I am very,
very committed to the civil liberties of all the American people, and I
believe, just as my colleagues have said, that that is at the core of
what the United States of America is all about. I believe passionately
that protecting our homeland and protecting civil liberties are not
mutually exclusive.
The PATRIOT Act that we have before us is a very responsible measure.
We do have sunset provisions remaining intact for two very important
provisions after 10 years. Some argue that is too long, but we have
those maintained. But we have to realize that if we are going to deal
with this challenge, uncertainty is something that people in law
enforcement cannot live with.
If we had seen failure, if we had seen violations of civil liberties,
then I believe that making modifications would be appropriate, but we
continue to have report after report saying there are no instances of
civil liberties being violated.
Let me make a statement about this rule. This is obviously a very
delicate issue. We had 47 amendments that were submitted to us in the
Committee on Rules, and I am very proud of the fact that we were able
to work with our colleagues addressing concerns that they raised.
The primary committee of jurisdiction here is the Committee on the
Judiciary. We all know that. The Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence shares very important jurisdiction as well, and I
understand that. I know there was concern that was raised last night in
the Committee on Rules on the so-called ``Lone Wolf amendment'' that
was addressed, a desire to have it sunsetted by the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Hastings). The Committee on Rules chose to comply with the
request of the primary committee of jurisdiction, the Committee on the
Judiciary, on this issue.
But now having looked at this rule with 47 amendments, nearly half of
the amendments that were submitted to us, 11 of the amendments that are
made in order under this rule are either amendments offered by
Democrats or offered by Democrats and Republicans, bipartisan
amendments, and 10 of the amendments that are made in order are offered
by Republicans. So I believe that we have got a good balance on a very
important critical issue that must be addressed.
I believe that the PATRIOT Act itself is actually looking out for
America, it is not looking after Americans. That is something that we
need to realize as part of the very important goal here. I believe this
measure will go a long way towards protecting our homeland and ensuring
the civil liberties of every single American.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Harman), the ranking member of the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence.
Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me
time.
Mr. Speaker, as many have said, we are all watching events unfold in
London this morning, hoping that this is not another gruesome act of
terrorism. If they can strike twice in the heart of London, a city on
high alert, then just think what they might try to do in any city in
America. That is why we need tough tools here at home to uncover terror
cells and disrupt their plans.
The PATRIOT Act modernizes law enforcement's tools to uncover those
plots. Most of the act is not objectionable, but it is far from
perfect, and there are several key provisions that allow the government
to engage in unnecessarily broad searches and surveillance of innocent
Americans. That is why I strongly believe we should mend it, not end
it.
The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence tried to mend it, but
the Committee on Rules did not make any of our amendments in order.
Nine of us offered responsible, common-sense amendments:
To establish the traditional FISA standard for search warrants and
trap and trace/pen register authorities, to ensure that the government
cannot seize your personal records unless they are related to a foreign
power;
To tighten the ability of the FBI to conduct roving wiretaps, to
ensure that only terror suspects and their enablers, not innocent
Americans, are wiretapped;
To re-sunset the key provisions in the act in another 4 years to
assure accountability and effective congressional oversight, and
specifically to sunset the Lone Wolf provision, enacted only 8 months
ago, in 2010;
Finally, to prohibit the FBI from using the broad FISA powers to get
[[Page H6216]]
bookstore or library documentary records, a provision which passed this
House last month on a strong bipartisan vote.
Mr. Speaker, the Hastings amendment to sunset the Lone Wolf provision
was accepted by the chairman of our committee, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra). He accepted the amendment and it passed on a
bipartisan vote. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) is a valued
member of the Committee on Rules, but his own committee stripped out
his amendment in the base bill and did not even allow him to offer it
on the floor.
This is about intelligence. The Committee on Rules should not be able
to block the will of Democrats and Republicans on the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence to improve the PATRIOT Act.
Mr. Speaker, this rule undermines the will of the House and blocks us
from mending and improving critical tools in this era of terror.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake), who will speak about one of the
bipartisan amendments made in order under this rule.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that I am often critical of this
process and have been known to be critical of the Committee on Rules on
particular bills that have come through, but I have to say with this
process and with the committee on which I sit, the Committee on the
Judiciary, we have seen a very transparent, open process. We have had a
series of 12 hearings over the past year, and we had a markup that went
over 12 hours in which we considered more than 50 amendments, I
believe, there.
I was successful, with a few of my Democrat colleagues, in attaching
a few amendments at that time. I believe there are four that have my
name on it that have been approved for today. A few of them have to do
with Section 215.
Mr. Speaker, I am not unsympathetic to the concerns that the
gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) has. I in fact voted for his
amendment on the floor the other day with regard to 215 and library and
bookstore searches and sales. I believe that we have addressed it
sufficiently in this bill in the amendments that will be offered.
We will offer an amendment later, myself and the gentleman from
California (Mr. Schiff), that will require the Director of the FBI to
actually sign off on any request for documents from a bookstore or
library. That will help substantially.
We also have another amendment to 215 we did in committee that
clarifies it to make sure you can consult your lawyer, not just to
respond to the order, but to challenge it as well. We have various
other amendments that have been approved today, national security
letters on the so-called delayed notification that have already been
approved.
I look forward to this process. I hope my colleagues will support
this rule. I know it is a tough job the Committee on Rules has. I have
worked, frankly, with a lot more Democrats than I have with Republicans
on this issue over the past year. We formed the PATRIOT Act Reform
Caucus, and a lot of us have worked very hard on these issues, and I am
pleased to say that many of these amendments have been approved and
will be offered today.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage my colleagues to support the rule.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), the ranking member of the
Committee on Homeland Security.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the
gentlewoman from New York yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule. Frederick Douglass
once said, ``The life of a nation is secure only while the nation is
honest, truthful and virtuous.''
I have heard a lot of comments the last few weeks from folks saying
this bill is needed for the war on terrorism. The way they talk about
it sounds like our Nation might fall to pieces without it.
As the ranking member on the Committee on Homeland Security and
someone who has seen firsthand what our government is and is not doing
to keep us safe at home, I am here to set the record straight. The bill
today is about eliminating the sunsets of a handful of provisions in
the PATRIOT Act and the 9/11 bill. Some of these provisions are
untested and we do not know how helpful they are because the President
has not provided information. Others, such as the library snooping
provision, have never even been used, according to the administration.
How good of a terrorism fighting tool is it if it has not been part of
our war on terror yet?
I am disappointed that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle
refused to allow an amendment offered to extend the sunsets for a few
years. Extending them will allow the President to use them, but at the
same time hold them accountable for their use. The sunsets are critical
in keeping this administration honest and truthful in its efforts to
protect our Nation.
Anyway, is the goal here today to protect Americans from terrorism at
home? The attack on London 2 weeks ago was a wake-up call, yet the
administration did not expand our own Nation's efforts to protect our
transit system. The Nation lacks a transportation security plan for
protecting its 30 million daily commuters. It was due in Congress 3
months ago. Today London was attacked again.
It is time for the administration to stop hitting the snooze button.
Let us give transit security the attention it needs. Let us not confuse
the bill today with the real efforts to protect our Nation against
terrorism. If we ask Americans, they will prefer Congress to protect
subways or buses.
Mr. Speaker, let us get it right. Let us protect Americans at home
from real terrorist threats.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Gohmert).
Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, in the entire realm of human history there
exists periods of time when evil people bent on destroying good,
wholesome, wonderful ways of life get enough power to try to do that
and to create chaos and to literally try to send us into a dark age. It
happens where books are burned and people live in squalor and fear, and
it has happened where al Qaeda has gotten a stronghold. We cannot let
that happen here.
Now, as a former judge and appellate judge, chief justice, I am very
sensitive to the issues of due process, but we are in a war. Going back
to the Civil War when Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus, it
is in the Constitution, ``The privilege of writ of habeas corpus shall
not be suspended unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the
public safety may require it.'' He felt it did. We have not suspended
writs of habeas corpus, even though we are in a war for our very
existence.
Now, there has been oversight. There will be oversight, because many
of us are deeply concerned about our safety and about our liberties.
So when the minority whip says, and he says he chooses his words
carefully, and he says that this represents a craven, and I know I may
look stupid, but I know what ``craven'' means, he says this represents
a craven failure of our oversight responsibilities, then it tells me
there might be a craven failure of his recognizing the oversight that
we have conducted.
I have been there. There have been 11 hearings and 35 witnesses. We
have delved deeply into this. Among Republicans, we have been deeply
divided. We have taken each other on.
I wanted sunsets. We have got sunsets on the two most controversial
provisions. We do not have to wait 10 years, even though that is what
the sunset provision says. We can come back before then. But I am
grateful, I am glad for the amendments we were able to inject on
providing for an attorney and allowing for appeal under 215.
Anyway, the gentleman across the aisle says if this is approved, part
of our tree of liberty will die. I think it is quite clear, if we do
not approve this, American people will die. If you do not believe it,
go look at the reports, as I have.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), the head of the Progressive
Caucus.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to and utter
disgust
[[Page H6217]]
with this bill. Just as a bad movie is often followed by an even worse
sequel, so it is with the PATRIOT Act.
PATRIOT II does nothing to correct the major flaws in the original
legislation. Basic civil liberties continues to be in jeopardy. The
bill expands police powers, it continues to authorize invasive
violations of our medical records, our library borrowing habits and
other private affairs. PATRIOT II restricts freedom, instead of
expanding it.
The irony is cruel, Mr. Speaker. In defense of freedom, we are
undermining freedom. I believe many of my colleagues voted for the
original PATRIOT Act because of the sunset provisions, because they
were assured this was a temporary measure for extraordinary times.
{time} 1130
Now, all but two of the sunsets have been stripped from the bill, and
those two come only after 10 years. So now we know the truth: the
PATRIOT Act was never intended as an emergency, post-9/11 action; as a
matter of fact, it is not limited to terrorism. It appears now that its
authors were always interested in a permanent clampdown on civil
liberties.
This bill is constitutional graffiti, Mr. Speaker. Patriotism means
affirming and celebrating the values that have made America strong for
more than 2 centuries. Legislation that violates several constitutional
amendments has no business calling itself the PATRIOT Act.
I urge my colleagues to oppose this restrictive rule and the overall
bill.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 45 seconds to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Feeney), a member of the Committee on the
Judiciary.
Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the rule. I will tell my
colleagues that over the last 8 months, we have had between 12 and 13
hearings in the Committee on the Judiciary and some 35 witnesses over
an extended period of time; and 50 members of the Committee on the
Judiciary have had a chance to not just question those witnesses, but
to go back in the secure intelligence records, which I have done, and
review all the FISA reports and the other information that is very
sensitive and an important part of our oversight.
We have considered some 50 different amendments as part of this
extensive hearing process. Today we will be debating all day on the
PATRIOT Act and into the evening. We will consider some 20 other
proposed amendments.
The fact of the matter is, Congress has done a very diligent job
balancing civil liberties during this time of great national threat. We
watch and pray for our friends in Britain as we do this, but we do it
only after serious and thoughtful consideration.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Vermont (Mr. Sanders).
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for
yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule and to the
underlying legislation. I rise in opposition not just because an
important amendment that I offered, along with the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul), the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), the gentleman from New Mexico
(Mr. Udall), and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo) was not
accepted by the Committee on Rules, but because this very same
amendment has already been passed on the floor of this House by a 51-
vote margin just a few weeks ago.
On June 15, by a vote of 238-187, this body voted overwhelmingly for
the exact same amendment which would stop the FBI and other government
agencies from going into our libraries and book stores without probable
cause. We voted on that by a 238-187 vote; and now, a few weeks later,
this provision is not included in the bill, and the Republican
leadership has refused to allow the Members to even vote on it.
This, my friends, is an outrageous abuse of power and denies the
majority of Members here the right to put into the bill what they want.
There is no excuse for that. If you wanted to speak against it, let it
come up, argue against it. But it has passed once; it will likely pass
again. But the Republican leadership has not allowed that issue to be
debated.
This whole discussion about the USA PATRIOT Act deals with two
issues. Number one, every Member of this body is pledged to do
everything that he or she can to protect the American people from the
horrendous scourge of terrorism, but some of us have more confidence in
our law enforcement agencies and the American people than others do. We
believe that we can fight terrorism and protect the American people
without undermining the basic constitutional rights which make us a
free country.
Let all of us remember that in the 1940s innocent Japanese Americans,
without any pretext, were herded into internment camps. In the 1960s, a
President of the United States had a file on him, President Kennedy, by
the FBI. In the 1960s, Martin Luther King, Jr., who some of us consider
to be one of the great heroes of the 20th century, was hounded and
investigated by the FBI.
The issue today is how do we effectively fight terrorism, but do it
in a way which protects the constitutional rights which make us a free
country.
I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I would point out to the gentleman that
since his amendment passed on June 15, Great Britain has been attacked
twice, so circumstances have changed.
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. GINGREY. I yield to the gentleman from Vermont.
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, we understand what happened today. Tell me
why you will not allow that amendment to come up for a vote, despite
the fact that the majority of the Members support it.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I continue to reserve
the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to
the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter).
Mr. OTTER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the leadership that we are
getting on this.
This is a very difficult time for me because I have been a Republican
all my life, and one of the things that I have fought for more than
anything else is fairness. Do I always agree with one side or the
other? Not always. My entire political career I have spent trying to
just maintain balance.
The interesting thing that was brought up earlier in the debate, as I
watched it from my office on this rule, was that the very thing that
the PATRIOT Act is supposed to give to this country, that the
proponents of it say gives to this country, is being denied on this
floor today, and it is being denied because I think people are afraid
to be exposed to the truth.
John Stuart Mill one time said, in certain occasions, there are
people that are unfit for liberty. Let us not prove to ourselves
because of temporary panic or momentary discouragement or in a fit of
enthusiasm for an individual, we are suddenly unworthy of our Founding
Fathers' efforts in order to provide liberty to the folks first, not
from the government, but from our birthright.
So I am embarrassed to be on this side of the aisle from this aspect
today. Certainly, I know that there are well-intended people on both
sides, and I tried to work out a lot of things on both sides of this
aisle on the PATRIOT Act. But I can tell my colleagues that with this
rule and the lack of full and complete discussion, we have put a gag
rule, the same gag rule that the FBI and the CIA and the NSA or any
other government agent can put on the folks at the library or down at
your local business and say, I want all of those records, but you are
not allowed to use them.
So it is unfortunate that we have come to this. It is unfortunate
that we have come to this time at this moment, because we have done so
much and we have so many reasons to be proud. But this is a very
embarrassing moment when we are afraid to confront the truth and the
full and unabashed debate on a subject that is so dear to us as this
deserves.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I am going to ask for a ``no'' vote on the previous
question so that I can amend the rule and allow
[[Page H6218]]
the House to consider the Sanders amendment that was rejected in the
Committee on Rules last night on a straight party-line vote. I might
also add that the extraordinarily important Otter amendment on the
egregious sneak-and-peak law was voted down on a 9 to 4 vote last
night.
This amendment would exclude booksellers and libraries from the scope
of section 215 of the PATRIOT Act, which allows law enforcement to
conduct broad searches of the records of bookstores and libraries
without demonstrating probable cause, and it forbids libraries and
bookstore owners from even telling their patrons that their records
have been searched.
Mr. Speaker, an identical version of this amendment was passed in the
House a month ago during consideration of the Science, State, Justice,
and Commerce Appropriations bill. By a substantial vote of 238 to 187,
the Members of this body expressed their support for the provisions of
the Sanders amendment. It is clear that the PATRIOT Act's provisions on
the search of library and bookstore records are overly broad and
undermine our basic constitutional rights. For the sake of civil
liberties and the privacy rights of our fellow citizens, this House
needs to debate the Sanders amendment.
I want to emphasize that a ``no'' vote will not stop the House from
considering the PATRIOT Act reauthorization bill, and it will not block
any amendment made in order under this rule. But a ``yes'' vote will
block the House from considering the Sanders amendment.
Please vote ``no'' on the previous question.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to print the text of the
amendment immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Aderholt). Is there objection to the
request of the gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise again in support of this rule and in recognition of the
importance of the underlying bill.
This debate has clearly demonstrated exactly what is at stake. This
House has an opportunity to ensure that law enforcement has the
ordinary, but necessary, tools to fight terrorism.
We cannot, Mr. Speaker, and will not return to a situation that binds
the hands of our intelligence and law enforcement communities. We
cannot and we will not allow an ever-adapting and determined enemy to
gain the advantage because our law enforcement did not have the
necessary tools.
The USA PATRIOT Act and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act will
allow us to continue to make inroads into terrorist cells and
operations. The goal has been and will continue to be to prevent
another attack.
In 2001, the House joined together in a bipartisan way to pass the
USA PATRIOT Act with 357 for, 66 against. This House must come together
again to pass H.R. 3199 and continue to fight against those who would
seek to destroy us.
The legislative process for this bill has been both thorough and
fair. Republicans, Democrats, Department of Justice, the ACLU, and
various other organizations have been able to speak freely and openly
during the development of this bill.
I believe, Mr. Speaker, the final product is solid and it will serve
as an important framework to fight terrorism, protect civil liberties,
and, ultimately, strengthen America.
I want to encourage my colleagues to support both the rule and the
underlying bill.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in protest of Rules
Committee's refusal to make the Sanders library amendment in order.
Just last month, this body passed an amendment that would have barred
funds from being spent on the controversial 215 orders against
libraries and bookstores. It simply would have protected the reading
habits of our own citizens from government snooping.
It passed by a vote of 238-187. I cannot protest enough that we are
not debating and voting on this amendment again.
Section 215 allows a secret court to issue secret orders to anyone to
turn over anything. It need not even be directed at a suspected
terrorist.
Mr. Sanders and I introduced an amendment that would have exempted
library and bookstore reading records from these secret orders. The FBI
still would have been able to get a regular warrant for reading
records. However, the administration doesn't even want to have to show
any criminal activity before it starts digging into our reading
records. It wants a free pass, and I will not willingly give it to
them.
Consider this: the American Library Association has confirmed that
the government, under some authority, has gone to a library, and asked
for a list of everyone who checked out a book on Osama bin Laden.
Clearly, in the wake of the September 11 attacks, many innocent people
are checking out books on Osama bin Laden. And therefore, many innocent
people had their right to privacy violated by our own government.
And there may be thousands more. We know that nearly 200 libraries
have been contacted by local and Federal officers since 9/11. We must
demand that they show some wrong doing on behalf of library patrons
before they dive into their personal habits.
Let me also note that we tried to offer an amendment to increase the
safety and security of our Nation's ports, rails, and mass transit
systems by providing those segments of the transportation industry with
the necessary tools and resources to reduce identified risks and
vulnerabilities, but were shut down by the majority. The American
people deserve these improvements, but the majority party will not even
let us vote on the issue. In light of today's bombing incident in
London, it is all the more objectionable that the majority would
foreclose critical amendments for the Patriot Act reauthorization on
the floor.
Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this restrictive
rule.
I am disappointed that this rule is preventing many of us from even
offering amendments that are very important to any discussion of the
Patriot Act.
Yesterday I went to the Rules Committee seeking an opportunity to
offer two amendments.
One that dealt with the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
that was created by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention
Act.
It was the third such time that I, in a bipartisan way with
Congressmen Shays and Tom Udall, that we have sought the opportunity to
debate this issue, but each time the Committee has not made it in
order.
I don't understand why this body refuses to even discuss this issue.
If our amendment was made in order, it would:
1. Give the Board subpoena power. Currently the board needs the
permission of the Attorney General to issue a subpoena.
2. Create the Board as an independent agency in the executive branch.
Currently the board is in the Executive Office of the President.
3. Require that all 5 members of the Board be confirmed by the
Senate. Currently only the Chair and the Vice Chair will be confirmed.
4. Require that no more than 3 members can be from the same political
party.
5. Set a term for Board members at 6 years. Currently members will
serve at the pleasure of the President.
6. Create the chairman as a full-time member of the Board.
7. Restore the qualifications of Board members that were originally
included in the Senate bill.
8. Restore reporting requirements to Congress.
9. Require each executive department or agency with law enforcement
or antiterrorism functions--should designate a privacy and civil
liberties officer.
The reason why we sought to offer this amendment is because the Civil
Liberties board that we have right now does not have the teeth it needs
to do its job. In fact, the board that we have right now has never even
met and we are still waiting on confirmation of the Chair and the Vice
Chair.
As we fight to prevent future terrorist attacks, we must also protect
the rights we are fighting for.
The 9/11 Commission got it exactly right when they wrote:
We must find ways of reconciling security with liberty,
since the success of one helps protects the other. . . . If
our liberties are curtailed, we lose the values we are
struggling to defend.
This is why we need a robust board.
That is why this body at the very least should be allowed to have
this discussion.
My other amendments dealt with humanitarian relief that we owe the
victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001.
This amendment was also offered in a bipartisan manner with my
colleague from New York, Peter King.
Temporary relief for non-citizens, who were here legally or not, was
included in the original Patriot Act.
I could think of no better time than now, during reauthorization of
the act that gave many temporary relief, to make this relief permanent.
[[Page H6219]]
The Maloney/Peter King amendment, provides adjustment in immigration
status to ``an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence'' and a
stay of removal to the surviving spouses and children of individuals
who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
To receive this adjusted status, the individual must be either
lawfully present or be deemed a beneficiary of the September 11th
Victims Compensation Fund.
These families have already suffered once, suffering the loss of a
loved-one in the attacks of 9/11, we should not prolong their
suffering.
This body should have made this amendment in order. This body should
be taking up the important issues that surround this bill.
Instead, we have a restrictive rule.
All we are requesting is an honest debate and unfortunately this rule
does not provide this.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join many of my
colleagues in strongly opposing the restrictive rule set forth on H.R.
3199, the ``USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of
2005.'' As you know, in light of the world we live in now, this is a
very important piece of legislation. Having such a rule truly goes too
far and limits the protections of the American people. There were many
important and relevant amendments that were not ruled in order and I
believe this could prove to be detrimental in the end. I must also
express my dismay with the fact an amendment by my good friend, Mr.
Conyers, was not ruled in order. This amendment, which centers on rail
and port security, should have been allowed in. Both rail and port
security are areas we as a country need to focus more attention on
particularly after what took place in London 2 weeks ago and apparently
another incident has taken place this morning.
Let me take a moment to discuss an important amendment of mine that
was not ruled in order. My amendment 141, dealing with racial
profiling, would have required the Inspector General to appoint an
official to produce a report to the House and Senate Judiciary
Committees showing a statistical breakdown of the race, nationality, or
ethnic background of the subject of orders issued by the Court under
Section 107. Every day, across the country, people of color are the
victims of racial profiling and law enforcement brutality. Skin color
and national origin are seen by some law enforcement agents as a cause
for suspicion and a reason to violate people's rights. As a matter of
policy and law, this body must use this very clear opportunity to set
the record straight with respect to exercising good faith law
enforcement practices. This amendment would have made that sentiment a
reality.
Before closing, I am pleased to see that my ``Safe Haven'' amendment
was ruled in order. This amendment seeks to allow the attachment of
property and the enforcement of a judgment against a judgment debtor
that has engaged in planning or perpetrating any act of domestic or
international terrorism under the ``forfeiture clause'' of 18 U.S.C.
981. The legislation, as drafted, fails to deal with the current
limitation on the ability to enforce civil judgments by victims and
family members of victims of terrorist offenses. There are several
examples of how the current administration has sought to bar victims
from satisfying judgments obtained against the Government of Iran, for
example. The administration barred the Iran hostages that were held
from 1979-1981 from satisfying their judgment against Iran. In 2000,
the party filed a suit against Iran under the terrorist State exception
to the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act. While a Federal district court
held Iran to be liable, the U.S. Government intervened and argued that
the case should be dismissed because Iran had not been designated a
terrorist state at the time of the hostage incident and because of the
Algiers Accords--that led to the release of the hostages, which
required the U.S. to bar the adjudication of suits arising from that
incident. As a result, those hostages received no compensation for
their suffering.
The text of the amendment previously referred to by Ms. Slaughter is
as follows:
At the end of the resolution add the following new
sections:
``Sec. 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
resolution the amendment specified in section 3 shall be in
order as though printed after the amendment numbered 20 in
the report of the Committee on Rules if offered by
Representative Sanders of Vermont or a designee. That
amendment shall be debatable for 60 minutes equally divided
and controlled by the proponent and an opponent.
``Sec. 3. The amendment referred to in section 2 is as
follows:
At the end of section 8 add the following new subsection:
(e) Library and Bookseller Records.--Section 501 of the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C.
1861) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(g)(1) No application may be made under this section with
either the purpose or effect of searching for, or seizing
from, a bookseller or library documentary materials (except
for records of Internet use) that contain personally
identifiable information concerning a patron of a bookseller
or library.
``(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as
precluding a physical search for documentary materials
referred to in paragraph (1) under other provisions of law,
including under section 303.
``(3) In this subsection:
``(A) The term `bookseller' means any person or entity
engaged in the sale, rental or delivery of books, journals,
magazines or other similar forms of communication in print or
digitally.
``(B) The term `library' has the meaning given that term
under section 213(2) of the Library Services and Technology
Act (20 U.S.C. 9122(2)) whose services include access to the
Internet, books, journals, magazines, newspapers, or other
similar forms of communication in print or digitally to
patrons for their use, review, examination or circulation.
``(C) The term `patron' means any purchaser, renter,
borrower, user or subscriber of goods or services from a
library or bookseller.
``(D) The term `documentary materials' means any document,
tape, or other communication created by a bookseller or
library in connection with print or digital dissemination of
a book, journal, magazine, newspaper, or other similar form
of communication.
``(E) The term `personally identifiable information'
includes information that identifies a person as having used,
requested or obtained specific reading materials or services
from a bookseller or library.''.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I
move the previous question on the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on ordering the previous
question.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, the Chair will reduce to 5 minutes
the minimum time for electronic voting, if ordered, on the question of
adoption of the resolution.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 224,
nays 197, not voting 12, as follows:
[Roll No. 401]
YEAS--224
Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Bachus
Baker
Barrett (SC)
Bartlett (MD)
Barton (TX)
Bass
Beauprez
Biggert
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonner
Bono
Boozman
Boustany
Bradley (NH)
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Buyer
Calvert
Camp
Cannon
Cantor
Capito
Carter
Castle
Chabot
Chocola
Coble
Cole (OK)
Conaway
Cox
Crenshaw
Culberson
Cunningham
Davis (KY)
Davis, Jo Ann
Davis, Tom
Deal (GA)
DeLay
Dent
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Doolittle
Drake
Dreier
Duncan
Ehlers
Emerson
English (PA)
Everett
Feeney
Ferguson
Fitzpatrick (PA)
Flake
Foley
Forbes
Fortenberry
Fossella
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gingrey
Gohmert
Goode
Goodlatte
Granger
Graves
Green (WI)
Gutknecht
Hall
Harris
Hart
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Hayworth
Hefley
Hensarling
Herger
Hobson
Hoekstra
Hostettler
Hulshof
Hunter
Inglis (SC)
Issa
Istook
Jenkins
Jindal
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Keller
Kelly
Kennedy (MN)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Kline
Knollenberg
Kolbe
Kuhl (NY)
LaHood
Latham
LaTourette
Leach
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
LoBiondo
Lucas
Lungren, Daniel E.
Mack
Manzullo
Marchant
McCaul (TX)
McCotter
McCrery
McHenry
McHugh
McKeon
McMorris
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Moran (KS)
Murphy
Musgrave
Myrick
Neugebauer
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nunes
Nussle
Osborne
Otter
Oxley
Paul
Pearce
Pence
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pitts
Platts
Poe
Pombo
Porter
Price (GA)
Pryce (OH)
Putnam
Radanovich
Ramstad
Regula
Rehberg
Reichert
Renzi
Reynolds
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Royce
Ryan (WI)
Ryun (KS)
Saxton
Schwarz (MI)
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
[[Page H6220]]
Sherwood
Shimkus
Shuster
Simmons
Simpson
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Sodrel
Souder
Stearns
Sullivan
Sweeney
Tancredo
Taylor (NC)
Terry
Thomas
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Turner
Upton
Walden (OR)
Walsh
Wamp
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (SC)
Wolf
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NAYS--197
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Allen
Baca
Baird
Baldwin
Barrow
Bean
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boren
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Brown (OH)
Brown, Corrine
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Cardin
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carson
Case
Chandler
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Cramer
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
Davis (TN)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Doyle
Edwards
Emanuel
Engel
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Ford
Frank (MA)
Gonzalez
Gordon
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Harman
Herseth
Higgins
Hinchey
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hooley
Hoyer
Inslee
Israel
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Johnson, E. B.
Jones (OH)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy (RI)
Kildee
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kind
Kucinich
Langevin
Lantos
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Lipinski
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Lynch
Maloney
Markey
Marshall
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy
McCollum (MN)
McDermott
McGovern
McIntyre
McKinney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Melancon
Menendez
Michaud
Millender-McDonald
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Mollohan
Moore (KS)
Moore (WI)
Moran (VA)
Murtha
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Owens
Pallone
Pastor
Payne
Pelosi
Peterson (MN)
Pomeroy
Price (NC)
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Ross
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sabo
Salazar
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sanders
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schwartz (PA)
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Sherman
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Solis
Spratt
Stark
Strickland
Stupak
Tanner
Tauscher
Taylor (MS)
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Towns
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Wexler
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
NOT VOTING--12
Andrews
Brady (TX)
Brown (SC)
Crowley
Cubin
Gerlach
Hastings (FL)
Hinojosa
Hyde
Ortiz
Pascrell
Rogers (KY)
{time} 1205
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia changed his vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
So the previous question was ordered.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Aderholt). The question is on the
resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. This will be a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 224,
noes 196, answered ``present'' 3, not voting 10, as follows:
[Roll No. 402]
AYES--224
Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Bachus
Baker
Barrett (SC)
Bartlett (MD)
Barton (TX)
Bass
Beauprez
Biggert
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonner
Bono
Boozman
Boustany
Bradley (NH)
Brady (TX)
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Buyer
Calvert
Camp
Cannon
Cantor
Capito
Carter
Castle
Chabot
Chocola
Coble
Cole (OK)
Conaway
Cox
Crenshaw
Culberson
Cunningham
Davis (KY)
Davis, Jo Ann
Davis, Tom
Deal (GA)
DeLay
Dent
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Doolittle
Drake
Dreier
Duncan
Ehlers
Emerson
English (PA)
Everett
Feeney
Ferguson
Fitzpatrick (PA)
Flake
Foley
Forbes
Fortenberry
Fossella
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Gerlach
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gingrey
Gohmert
Goode
Goodlatte
Granger
Graves
Green (WI)
Gutknecht
Hall
Harris
Hart
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Hayworth
Hefley
Hensarling
Herger
Hobson
Hoekstra
Hostettler
Hulshof
Hunter
Inglis (SC)
Issa
Istook
Jenkins
Jindal
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Keller
Kelly
Kennedy (MN)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Kline
Knollenberg
Kolbe
Kuhl (NY)
LaHood
Latham
LaTourette
Leach
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
LoBiondo
Lucas
Lungren, Daniel E.
Mack
Manzullo
Marchant
McCaul (TX)
McCotter
McCrery
McHenry
McHugh
McKeon
McMorris
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Moran (KS)
Murphy
Musgrave
Myrick
Neugebauer
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nunes
Nussle
Osborne
Oxley
Pearce
Pence
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pitts
Platts
Poe
Pombo
Porter
Price (GA)
Pryce (OH)
Putnam
Radanovich
Ramstad
Regula
Rehberg
Reichert
Renzi
Reynolds
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Ros-Lehtinen
Royce
Ryan (WI)
Ryun (KS)
Saxton
Schwarz (MI)
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Sherwood
Shimkus
Shuster
Simmons
Simpson
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Sodrel
Souder
Stearns
Sullivan
Sweeney
Tancredo
Taylor (NC)
Terry
Thomas
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Turner
Upton
Walden (OR)
Walsh
Wamp
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (SC)
Wolf
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NOES--196
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Allen
Baca
Baird
Baldwin
Barrow
Bean
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boren
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Brown (OH)
Brown, Corrine
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Cardin
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carson
Case
Chandler
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Cramer
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
Davis (TN)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Doyle
Edwards
Emanuel
Engel
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Ford
Frank (MA)
Gonzalez
Gordon
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Harman
Herseth
Higgins
Hinchey
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hooley
Hoyer
Inslee
Israel
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Johnson, E. B.
Jones (OH)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy (RI)
Kildee
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kind
Kucinich
Langevin
Lantos
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Lipinski
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Lynch
Maloney
Markey
Marshall
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy
McCollum (MN)
McDermott
McGovern
McIntyre
McKinney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Melancon
Menendez
Michaud
Millender-McDonald
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Mollohan
Moore (KS)
Moore (WI)
Moran (VA)
Murtha
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Owens
Pallone
Pastor
Payne
Pelosi
Peterson (MN)
Pomeroy
Price (NC)
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Ross
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sabo
Salazar
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sanders
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schwartz (PA)
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Sherman
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Solis
Spratt
Stark
Strickland
Stupak
Tanner
Tauscher
Taylor (MS)
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Towns
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Wexler
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
ANSWERED ``PRESENT''--3
Otter
Paul
Rohrabacher
NOT VOTING--10
Andrews
Brown (SC)
Crowley
Cubin
Gutierrez
Hastings (FL)
Hinojosa
Hyde
Ortiz
Pascrell
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). Members are advised that 2
minutes remain in this vote.
{time} 1217
So the resolution was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I missed two votes on July
21, 2005. Had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcalls 401
and 402.
____________________