    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [December 16, 2005]
    [Page 1862]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Senate Filibuster of PATRIOT Act Reauthorization
    Legislation
    December 16, 2005

        The PATRIOT Act has protected American liberty and saved American
    lives since the law's passage after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
    Today, a minority of Senators filibustered to block the Senate from
    voting to reauthorize key provisions of the act. These Senators need to
    understand that the PATRIOT Act expires in 15 days, but the terrorist
    threat to America will not expire on that schedule. The terrorists want
    to attack America again and kill the innocent and inflict even greater
    damage than they did on September 11th, and the Congress has a
    responsibility not to take away this vital tool that law enforcement and
    intelligence officials have used to protect the American people. The
    Senators who are filibustering the PATRIOT Act must stop their delaying
    tactics so that we are not without this critical law for even a single
    moment.