[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1007-E1008]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  STATEMENT IN OPPOSITION TO THE PATRIOT SUNSETS EXTENSION ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 1, 2011

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the PATRIOT 
Sunsets Extension Act of 2011.
  The bill that is under consideration today would again extend 
authorities under the USA PATRIOT Act known as the ``roving wiretap'' 
provision, the business records, or ``library,'' provision, which 
provides authority to compel production of business records or ``any 
tangible thing'' deemed related to a terrorism investigation, and the 
so-called ``lone wolf'' provision.
  These provisions continue to raise serious privacy concerns and 
potential threats to our civil liberties, which is why I have voted

[[Page E1008]]

against extending these provisions in the past. We simply cannot 
continue to forgo Congressional oversight and simply extend these 
authorities, without amendment or debate, because we are told that 
these provisions are critical to our national security. It is incumbent 
on Members of Congress to consider the potential overreach of these 
provisions and the potential threat to our most basic freedoms.
  In the wake of the attacks of September 11th, we rightfully committed 
to do what we must to protect ourselves from future terror attacks. But 
we must balance our security with the need to protect ourselves against 
unnecessary federal intrusion into our private lives, which is an 
essential part of what it means to be an American and must not be 
sacrificed.
  Simply reauthorizing these provisions, without careful and deliberate 
debate about their potential impact, is a disservice to the American 
people and threatens our fundamental liberties.
  That is why I vote against the extension before us today.

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