[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 102 (Monday, July 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1599-E1600]
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. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    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 purpose:


[[Page E1600]]


  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I voted against the PATRIOT Act four 
years ago and I remain opposed to it. While I support a number of the 
tools the PATRIOT Act grants to law enforcement in the fight to combat 
terrorism, it went too far in eroding important civil liberties, 
limiting the right to due process, and unnecessarily targeting 
immigrants.
  The PATRIOT Act reauthorization process gives Congress a crucial 
opportunity and responsibility to reevaluate some of the decisions that 
were made in the emotional and fear-filled weeks following the 9/11 
terrorist attacks and improve national security without jeopardizing 
personal liberty. The only reason we are having this debate over 
controversial provisions within the PATRIOT Act is because Congress 
agreed to set sunsets on these provisions four years ago. Minimally, 
the sunsets on the original 16 expiring provisions should be retained 
so that Congress can reconsider these new federal powers in the future 
if they prove too expansive.
  H.R. 3199 fails to restore proper checks and balances and leaves 
everyday American citizens vulnerable to unnecessary and unreasonable 
government intrusion. Overbroad and overzealous investigations cloaked 
in secrecy have already had a chilling effect on Americans in their 
practice of freedom of speech, religion, and associations. The PATRIOT 
Act places these freedoms in jeopardy.
  Although proponents of the bill have argued that there are no known 
abuses of the new law enforcement powers granted by the PATRIOT Act, 
because of the way the law is written, Congress has no way to know 
whether or not abuses have occurred. We do know that hundreds of 
immigrants and citizens have been detained or spied on for no reason 
other than their religion or nationality. Also, more than 200 libraries 
have been asked to turn over their records to law enforcement 
officials, and the sneak and peak search provision has been used at 
least 248 times to search homes and offices without notifying the 
occupants.
  The USA PATRIOT Act threatens the rights of all Americans. A CBS News 
poll found that 52 percent of Americans were either `very concerned' or 
`somewhat concerned' about losing civil liberties as a result of the 
PATRIOT Act. According to a CNN/Gallup poll, 64 percent believe the 
government should take steps to protect additional acts of terrorism 
but not if those steps would violate our civil liberties.
  I join the majority of Americans who want to protect our nation's 
security while preserving Constitutional freedoms and civil liberties. 
Sweeping and unnecessary federal surveillance and unchecked law 
enforcement powers undermine the rights that are the cornerstone of our 
democracy.
  The Constitution that I carry is not a Republican document, it is not 
a Democratic document, it is an American document that we want to 
preserve. The PATRIOT Act is an affront to our civil rights and civil 
liberties, as guaranteed by our Constitution.

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