[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 4, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PATRIOT ACT REAUTHORIZATION

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 4, 2009

  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is imperative that the USA 
PATRIOT Act be reauthorized fully and not weakened, as I believe H.R. 
3845 will do. In the years following 9/11, there have been a number of 
major terrorist attacks around the world that have caused mass 
casualties on civilians. I think it is important to remember some of 
these events:-
  12 Oct 2002. Car bombing outside nightclub in Kuta, Indonesia. 202 
dead.
  26 Oct 2002. Hostage taking and attempted rescue in theater in 
Moscow, Russia. 170 dead.
  16 May 2003. Suicide bombers attacked Western tourist areas in 
Casablanca, Morocco. 45 dead.
  11 Mar 2004. Bombings of four trains in Madrid, Spain. 191 dead.
  1-3 Sep 2004. Hostage taking at school in Beslan, Russia. 372 dead.
  7 July 2005. Bombings of three subway trains and one bus in London, 
UK. 54 dead.
  11 Jul 2006. Multiple bombings on commuter trains in Mumbai, India. 
200 dead.
  26-29 Nov 2008. Multiple shooting and grenade attacks in Mumbai, 
India. 174 dead.
  Madam Speaker, thankfully, none of these horrific attacks occurred in 
the United States. I believe that part of the reason we have not 
suffered another terrorist attack is that our brave men and women in 
law enforcement have done a tremendous job of preventing further 
attacks. I do not believe Al Qaeda simply decided not to bother us 
anymore. We must not forget that many analysts warned after 9/11 that 
we needed to ``learn to live'' with terrorism. Well, thankfully, that 
reality never happened.
  I believe that our law enforcement, armed with tools such as the 
PATRIOT Act, have prevented attacks and saved us from this type of 
suffering within the United States. We as Congress need to do all we 
can to give our men and women in law enforcement the tools they need to 
do their job, not weaken these tools.

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