[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 102 (Monday, July 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1601]
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. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    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. POMEROY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to say that I will be voting 
for H.R. 3199, the USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization 
Act, with the expectation that this bill's flaws will be fixed in 
conference negotiations with the Senate.
  I support reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act because it provides for the 
continuation of much-needed, modernized criminal and intelligence 
investigating tools that bolster the ability of federal authorities to 
combat the threat of terrorism. However, I believe that these powers 
should be properly tailored to ensure that the legislation meets its 
intended purpose and does not allow for unnecessarily broad searches 
and surveillance of innocent Americans.
  The bill we are considering today takes many good steps towards 
reauthorizing the tools necessary to combat terrorism. However, I 
believe that this bill can be improved by tightening the ability to 
conduct roving wiretaps and inserting provisions to re-evaluate 
measures to assure accountability and effective congressional 
oversight. Despite my concerns with H.R. 3199, I am going to vote for 
this bill based on the expectation that this bill's shortcomings will 
be significantly improved during negotiations with the Senate.

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