[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 9, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EXTENDING COUNTERTERRORISM AUTHORITIES

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                               speech of

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 2011

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, today I voted against H.R. 514, another 
one-year extension of three overreaching provisions in the Patriot Act, 
which are set to expire on February 28, 2011.
  I have opposed the Patriot Act since the original, bipartisan version 
of the bill was hijacked by the Bush administration and significantly 
expanded without safeguards for the rights of ordinary Americans. This 
is why it has been consistently opposed by thoughtful members of 
Congress from both parties.
  In a country that prides itself on civil rights and freedom of 
speech, we must maintain a system with checks and balances to ensure 
that our government works for our citizens in a transparent way. I have 
no doubt that we can keep America safe without compromising our 
liberties. By simply extending this policy for another year, we are 
forfeiting the opportunity and neglecting the responsibility to have a 
meaningful review that can bring us closer to a more accountable 
approach that balances individual privacy with our national defense.
  One of the many provisions in need of reform and left unaddressed in 
this bill is section 215. This provision fails to provide meaningful 
protection for library patrons, and library and business records. The 
burden should be on the government to show reasonable suspicion or 
probable cause before undertaking an investigation.
  After a decade it is past time to review and refine this legislation. 
The intelligence community already has the tools necessary to keep us 
safe without compromising our privacy. Another one-year extension is a 
lost opportunity to make sure we protect the liberties of American 
citizens.

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