[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2492-E2493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     VIOLENT RADICALIZATION AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 5, 2007

  Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, I regret that I was unavoidably out of town 
on October 23, 2007, when a vote was taken on H.R. 1955, the Violent 
Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act. Had I been able 
to vote, I would have voted against this misguided and dangerous piece 
of legislation. This legislation focuses the weight of the U.S. 
government inward toward its own citizens under the guise of protecting 
us against ``violent radicalization.''
  I would like to note that this legislation was brought to the floor 
for a vote under suspension of regular order. These so-called 
``suspension'' bills are meant to be non-controversial, thereby 
negating the need for the more complete and open debate allowed under 
regular order. It is difficult for me to believe that none of my 
colleagues in Congress view H.R. 1955, with its troubling civil 
liberties implications, as ``non-controversial.''
  There are many causes for concern in H.R. 1955. The legislation 
specifically singles out the Internet for ``facilitating violent 
radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown 
terrorism process'' in the United States. Such language may well be the 
first step toward U.S. government regulation of

[[Page E2493]]

what we are allowed to access on the Internet. Are we, for our own 
good, to be subjected to the kind of governmental control of the 
Internet that we see in unfree societies? This bill certainly sets us 
on that course.
  This seems to be an unwise and dangerous solution in search of a real 
problem. Previous acts of ideologically-motivated violence, though 
rare, have been resolved successfully using law enforcement techniques, 
existing laws against violence and our court system. Even if there were 
a surge of ``violent radicalization''--a claim for which there is no 
evidence--there is no reason to believe that our criminal justice 
system is so flawed and weak as to be incapable of trying and punishing 
those who perpetrate violent acts.
  This legislation will set up a new government bureaucracy to monitor 
and further study the as-yet undemonstrated pressing problem of 
homegrown terrorism and radicalization. It will no doubt prove to be 
another bureaucracy that artificially inflates problems so as to 
guarantee its future existence and funding. But it may do so at great 
further expense to our civil liberties. What disturbs me most about 
this legislation is that it leaves the door wide open for the broadest 
definition of what constitutes ``radicalization.'' Could otherwise non-
violent anti-tax, antiwar, or anti-abortion groups fall under the 
watchful eye of this new government commission? Assurances otherwise in 
this legislation are unconvincing.
  In addition, this legislation will create a Department of Homeland 
Security-established university-based body to further study 
radicalization and to ``contribute to the establishment of training, 
written materials, information, analytical assistance and professional 
resources to aid in combating violent radicalization and homegrown 
terrorism.'' I wonder whether this is really a legitimate role for 
institutes of higher learning in a free society.
  Legislation such as this demands heavy-handed governmental action 
against American citizens where no crime has been committed. It is yet 
another attack on our Constitutionally-protected civil liberties. It is 
my sincere hope that we will reject such approaches to security, which 
will fail at their stated goal at a great cost to our way of life.

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