[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 93 (Monday, July 17, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SUPPORTING INTELLIGENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS TO TRACK 
                   TERRORISTS AND TERRORIST FINANCES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2006

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 895. I 
strongly support efforts to track and pursue suspected foreign 
terrorists by monitoring their financial transactions. This Republican 
resolution, however, shamefully distorts the facts and turns the 
critical issue of national security into a venue for Republican 
political gain.
  There is no doubt that our country must effectively and responsibly 
monitor the financial transactions of terrorists. It is for that reason 
I have cosponsored H.R. 900, the Democratic alternative resolution. 
This resolution reaffirms Democrats' commitment to protecting our 
national security by tracking suspected terrorists. It also reaffirms 
that, when confidential information is leaked, bipartisan Congressional 
review and oversight are critical--regardless of who may be responsible 
for that leak. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership has denied the 
Members of this House the opportunity to debate and vote on this 
Democratic alternative.
  As a result, we are forced only to consider this flawed and 
misleading Republican resolution.
  This resolution claims that the Terrorist Financial Tracking Program 
is legal, that it protects individual civil liberties, and that 
Congress has been appropriately informed about its activities.
  The fact is that we do not know if the Terrorist Financial Tracking 
Program is legal or if it protects our civil liberties because no court 
has ruled on these critical issues. In essence, this resolution asks 
Members of Congress and the American people to simply accept their word 
on the legality and civil protections of this program.
  The resolution's claim that Congress has been appropriately informed 
about the Terrorist Financial Tracking Program is simply not true. In 
fact, few Members knew about this program. Only after its existence was 
exposed to the public by the press did the Bush Administration offer to 
brief the appropriate members of Congress. As a result, this 
questionable program failed to receive critical Congressional 
oversight.
  The Republican philosophy of selective oversight is also exemplified 
by the fact that this resolution fails to even mention one of the most 
egregious leaks in recent history--the 2003 identity leak of a CIA 
agent by a member of the Bush Administration.
  This Republican resolution instead attempts to shield the 
administration and Republican leadership from public scrutiny by 
shifting the blame for the leaks to the press and diverting attention 
from the fact that the majority party has had no hearings, no 
briefings, and certainly no resolutions highlighting this serious 
issue.
  The lack of Congressional oversight on cases of leaked confidential 
information is another example of the Republican pattern of negligence.
  If the Republican leadership were truly sincere about addressing 
national security issues through this resolution, they would not have 
brought it to the floor without review by the appropriate Congressional 
Committees and with a rule that blocks any consideration of a 
Democratic alternative.
  Mr. Speaker, this Republican resolution is deceitful, politically 
motivated, and an insult to the very American democracy that 
Republicans claim they want to protect.
  I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 895 and to cosponsor the 
Democratic alternative, H.R. 900.

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