[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20872]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   UNITING AND STRENGTHENING AMERICA BY PROVIDING APPROPRIATE TOOLS 
 REQUIRED TO INTERCEPT AND OBSTRUCT TERRORISM (USA PATRIOT) ACT OF 2001

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                               speech of

                           HON. ROBERT WEXLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 23, 2001

  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that a provision earlier 
included in money laundering legislation, which would have inhibited 
RICO liability for foreign excise taxes for tobacco companies, has been 
dropped from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, the final version of 
comprehensive anti-terrorism legislation. The sections of the final 
version of this bill which expand the definition of Specified Unlawful 
Activities for Money Laundering are a crucial component of the USA 
PATRIOT Act. We all know that in order to crush terrorism in all its 
forms, it will be necessary for us to put an end to the money 
laundering which is essential to the financing of terrorists' networks. 
In order for our legislation to be effective, our laws against money 
laundering must have the widest possible scope. Just as criminals 
continually are finding new and creative ways to subvert and circumvent 
our laws, our laws must be broad enough and flexible enough to allow 
our courts to fight against money laundering in any form we find it. In 
response to United States requests, many of our allies, including the 
European Community and its Member States have strengthened their money 
laundering laws in a cooperative effort to battle money laundering and 
terrorism. It is our intent to recognize and assist the efforts of our 
allies in our joint effort to fight fraud and money laundering wherever 
and in whatever form we find it. If our allies are victimized by fraud, 
smuggling or money laundering emanating from U.S. soil, they should 
have the benefit of U.S. laws and U.S. courts to combat those offenses. 
The expanded definition of Specified Unlawful Activities will ensure 
that money laundering associated with crimes or fraud committed against 
our allies shall constitute violations of U.S. law thereby giving the 
United States and our allies the maximum capability to utilize U.S. 
laws to combat the money laundering. Just as the United States has 
always recognized the fundamental right of friendly nations to have 
access to our courts to enforce their rights, we shall continue to give 
our full cooperation to our allies in their efforts to combat smuggling 
and money laundering, including access to our courts and the unimpeded 
benefit of our criminal and civil laws.

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