WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind. (6th CD), issued the following news release:
"Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.
R. 514 to extend the three expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. Nearly ten years removed from the attacks of September 11, 2001, it is all too clear that America is still a nation at war and these expiring provisions are still valuable tools in the Global War on Terror.
"I was here at the Capitol on that day. I saw the evil of our enemies written in the smoke rising above the Pentagon. We are reminded even today that their desire to inflict such violence on our homeland and that of our allies is real.
"Just last week, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano testified that the "threat continues to evolve" and went on to say that the risk of attack "may be at its most heightened state" since that fateful day in 2001.
"Because we are still a nation at war, I support the extension until December 8, 2011 of the three provisions, set to expire on February 28, 2011.
"The first, Section 206, authorizes the use of roving wiretaps by law enforcement after approval from the FISA court. This allows for terrorists or spies who throw away their cell phones and change locations frequently to be tracked before they can execute an attack. Roving wiretaps have been routinely used for decades by domestic law enforcement in criminal cases. Quite simply, the USA PATRIOT Act gives our national security and intelligence communities the same tools provided to local law enforcement and it is an essential tool to fight terrorism in the modern world.
"Section 215 authorizes the FBI to ask FISA courts to issue an order that allows the FBI to investigate business records related to international terrorism and clandestine intelligence activities. With this provision at their disposal, the FBI will have a greater opportunity to obtain foreign intelligence information. Now some will argue that this provision will allow the federal government to spy on the business records, internet activities and library accounts of ordinary, law-abiding citizens. That is not the case.
"To use Section 215, national security agents need approval from the FISA court. The government must demonstrate to the court that the business records sought are "not concerning a United States person," but in connection with international terrorism. The oversight requirements of this provision are very stringent. Every six months, the Attorney General must report to Congress on the number of times a Section 215 order has been sought, granted, modified or denied.
"The third provision, found in section 6001 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Protection Act, commonly known as the "Lone Wolf" provision, allows law enforcement to track those non-U.
S. citizens who seek to inflict terror under their own initiative, without affiliation to common terrorist groups.
"Mr. Speaker, only weeks ago, Members of this body took the oath of office and swore to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies. We have the responsibility to uphold that pledge, and in doing so, I believe we must equip law enforcement and intelligence officials with the tools necessary to protect Americans from terrorist attack.
"There is no doubt about America's determination to protect itself and this legislation will ensure that our intelligence community - those who work tirelessly every day to protect us - have the tools they need to prevent the horrors of September 11th from being brought to our soil again.
"We must also safeguard the precious civil rights and liberties that make our lives free and fulfilling. The PATRIOT Act includes strong protections for the civil liberties of Americans and continues extensive measures for oversight and review of the Department of Justice and our intelligence agencies. As a member of the Committee on the Judiciary, I fully understand the need to strike a proper balance between security and the rights of the American people, and I believe that in extending these provisions, we will do just that.
"I am confident this Congress will continue its oversight duties so that we can ensure that every tool available to the intelligence community is coupled with safeguards that ensure the civil liberties of the American people.
"Our solemn duty is to protect Americans from terrorists and safeguard their civil liberties, and we will fulfill that duty by passing this bill to extend, through December 8th of this year, these crucial provisions of the PATRIOT Act.
"I urge passage and yield the balance of my time." For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
No comments:
Post a Comment