[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H11509-H11510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PATRIOT ACT REAUTHORIZATION

  (Mr. MEEHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, in the wake of September 11, 
Congress passed the PATRIOT Act to provide law enforcement new tools to 
protect America from terrorism. The bill was a rushed response and 
passed in an urgent hour.

[[Page H11510]]

  Fortunately, the bill included sunset provisions, allowing Congress 
to revisit the law, reflect on its implementation, and fix those parts 
of the law that have clearly become overreaching. Four years later, 
Congress has failed to seize the opportunity to do so.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose the leadership's attempt to 
irresponsibly rush another flawed bill into law.
  Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past. Let us instead strike the 
right balance between our national security and our constitutional 
rights.
  At a time when so much of the world questions our commitment to our 
own values, I urge my colleagues to show the American people and the 
world that we will defend our country, but that we will do so in a way 
that protects those rights that make it worth defending.

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