    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [October 26, 2001]
    [Pages 1306-1307]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1306]]

    Remarks on Signing the USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001
    October 26, 2001

        Good morning and welcome to the White House. Today we take an
    essential step in defeating terrorism, while protecting the
    constitutional rights of all Americans. With my signature, this law will
    give intelligence and law enforcement officials important new tools to
    fight a present danger.
        I commend the House and Senate for the hard work they put into this
    legislation. Members of Congress and their staffs spent long nights and
    weekends to get this important bill to my desk. I appreciate their
    efforts and bipartisanship in passing this new law.
        I want to thank the Vice President and his
    staff for working hard to make sure this law was passed. I want to thank
    the Secretary of State and the Secretary of
    Treasury for being here, both of whom lead
    important parts of our war against terrorism. I want to thank Attorney
    General John Ashcroft for spending a lot of
    time on the Hill to make the case for a balanced piece of legislation. I
    want to thank the Director of the FBI
    and the Director of the CIA for waging an
    incredibly important part on the two-front war, one overseas and a front
    here at home. I want to thank Governor Tom Ridge
    for his leadership.
        I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here on the stage,
    the leaders, on this impressive effort: Senator Hatch and Senator Leahy and Senator
    Sarbanes and Senator Graham and Senator Reid. I also want to
    thank Representative Porter Goss,
    LaFalce, Oxley,
    and Sensenbrenner for their hard
    work. And I want to welcome the men and women of law enforcement who are
    here in the White House with us today, as well.
        The changes, effective today, will help counter a threat like no
    other our Nation has ever faced. We've seen the enemy and the murder of
    thousands of innocent, unsuspecting people. They recognize no barrier of
    morality. They have no conscience. The terrorists cannot be reasoned
    with. Witness the recent anthrax attacks through our Postal Service.
        Our country is grateful for the courage the Postal Service has shown
    during these difficult times. We mourn the loss of the lives of Thomas
    Morris and Joseph Curseen, postal workers who died in the line of duty. And
    our prayers go to their loved ones.
        I want to assure postal workers that our Government is testing more
    than 200 postal facilities along the entire eastern corridor that may
    have been impacted. And we will move quickly to treat and protect
    workers where positive exposures are found.
        But one thing is for certain: These terrorists must be pursued; they
    must be defeated; and they must be brought to justice. And that is the
    purpose of this legislation. Since the 11th of September, the men and
    women of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been
    relentless in their response to new and sudden challenges.
        We have seen the horrors terrorists can inflict. We may never know
    what horrors our country was spared by the diligent and determined work
    of our police forces, the FBI, ATF agents, Federal marshals, custom
    officers, Secret Service, intelligence professionals, and local law
    enforcement officials. Under the most trying conditions, they are
    serving this country with excellence and often with bravery.
        They deserve our full support and every means of help that we can
    provide. We're dealing with terrorists who operate by highly
    sophisticated methods and technologies, some of which were not even
    available when our existing laws were written. The bill before me takes
    account of the new realities and dangers posed by modern terrorists. It
    will help law enforcement to

    [[Page 1307]]

    identify, to dismantle, to disrupt, and to punish terrorists before they
    strike.
        For example, this legislation gives law enforcement officials better
    tools to put an end to financial counterfeiting, smuggling, and money
    laundering. Secondly, it gives intelligence operations and criminal
    operations the chance to operate not on separate tracks but to share
    vital information so necessary to disrupt a terrorist attack before it
    occurs.
        As of today, we're changing the laws governing information sharing.
    And as importantly, we're changing the culture of our various agencies
    that fight terrorism. Countering and investigating terrorist activity is
    the number one priority for both law enforcement and intelligence
    agencies.
        Surveillance of communications is another essential tool to pursue
    and stop terrorists. The existing law was written in the era of rotary
    telephones. This new law that I sign today will allow surveillance of
    all communications used by terrorists, including e-mails, the Internet,
    and cell phones. As of today, we'll be able to better meet the
    technological challenges posed by this proliferation of communications
    technology.
        Investigations are often slowed by limit on the reach of Federal
    search warrants. Law enforcement agencies have to get a new warrant for
    each new district they investigate, even when they're after the same
    suspect. Under this new law, warrants are valid across all districts and
    across all States.
        And finally, the new legislation greatly enhances the penalties that
    will fall on terrorists or anyone who helps them. Current statutes deal
    more severely with drug traffickers than with terrorists. That changes
    today. We are enacting new and harsh penalties for possession of
    biological weapons. We're making it easier to seize the assets of groups
    and individuals involved in terrorism. The Government will have wider
    latitude in deporting known terrorists and their supporters. The statute
    of limitations on terrorist acts will be lengthened, as will prison
    sentences for terrorists.
        This bill was carefully drafted and considered. Led by the Members
    of Congress on this stage and those seated in the audience, it was
    crafted with skill and care, determination and a spirit of
    bipartisanship for which the entire Nation is grateful. This bill met
    with an overwhelming--overwhelming--agreement in Congress because it
    upholds and respects the civil liberties guaranteed by our Constitution.
        This legislation is essential not only to pursuing and punishing
    terrorists but also preventing more atrocities in the hands of the evil
    ones. This Government will enforce this law with all the urgency of a
    nation at war. The elected branches of our Government and both political
    parties are united in our resolve to find and stop and punish those who
    would do harm to the American people.
        It is now my honor to sign into law the USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:49 a.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Thomas L. Morris, Jr., and Joseph
    P. Curseen, Jr., postal workers at the Brentwood postal facility in
    Washington, DC, who died as a result of anthrax infections contracted
    from contaminated mail processed at the facility. H.R. 3162, Uniting and
    Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required To
    Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, approved
    October 26, was assigned Public Law No. 107-56. The Office of the Press
    Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.