[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




H.R. 3199: USA PATRIOT AND TERRORISM PREVENTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  2005

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2005

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my opposition to the bill 
we consider today--H.R. 3199--which extends certain controversial 
provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. As many of my colleagues have 
pointed out, the PATRIOT Act is already the law of the land. However, 
what we consider today--and what I am opposing--are the extension of 16 
sunsetted provisions that increase access to personal information. I 
voted to support the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001; I did so because there 
was a structured and reasonable limit to how long these questionable 
provisions would be in effect. In the bill we consider today, the 
sunsets have been either removed or extended to such unreasonable 
lengths that they are rendered pointless.
  In the 4 years since the bill has passed, little effort has been 
expended to ensure that the civil liberties of the American people are 
not being violated. As such, I will oppose this bill today, but I do 
not foreclose supporting this bill in the future should it come back 
with improved and more acceptable language that provides for the strong 
oversight we need to effectively combat terrorism while at the same 
time maintaining our civil liberties.

                          ____________________