[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 102 (Monday, July 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    USA PATRIOT AND TERRORISM PREVENTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 2005

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3199) to 
     extend and modify authorities needed to combat terrorism, and 
     for other purposes:

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3199--
the USA PATRIOT Reauthorization Act of 2005.
  Mr. Chariman, we could be voting today on a bill that would receive 
almost unanimous support in this House. We could be voting on a bill 
that represents our best attempt at achieving the delicate balance 
between protecting our Nation from the threat of terrorism and 
preserving our treasured liberties. The reason I know that we could do 
it is that every Member of this House cares about protecting our 
constituents from terrorists and every Member of this House believes 
that in the United States of America, there are certain liberties and 
freedoms that must be preserved.
  Unfortunately, the bill before us today fails to achieve this 
balance. Despite the fact that we may adopt several amendments that 
will institute some minimal safeguards, H.R. 3199 still fails to 
protect our treasured liberties.
  I voted against the PATRIOT Act the first time it was before the 
House, because I believed that certain provisions in the bill simply 
went too far and undermined our American values of freedom and justice. 
Many of the provisions that had me worried are up for reauthorization 
today. The final bill we will vote on today will contain most of them 
in the same exact form as four years ago, and that is unfortunate.
  This is not to say that I oppose the entire PATRIOT Act. In fact, 
most of the PATRIOT Act is important and noncontroversial. We all want 
our law enforcement officers to have the tools they need to protect us.
  However, I believe that when Congress greatly expands the 
government's powers, as it did in many of the provisions before the 
House, we also have an obligation to build in safeguards to protect the 
average American citizen. I do not believe this bill meets our 
obligation to the American people, and I cannot support it.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 3199.

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