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Sensenbrenner Applauds House Passage of PATRIOT Act Conference Report; Urges Senate to Support Final Legislation

Posted on: Wednesday, 14 December 2005, 18:00 CST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.) applauded today's vote passing the PATRIOT Act conference report and urged the Senate to follow suit by supporting the legislation and not risk returning to a pre-9/11 law and mindset. The 251-to-174 bipartisan vote, with 207 Republicans and 44 Democrats in support, moves the legislation to the Senate for its final approval.

"The PATRIOT Act legislation provides essential tools to protecting the American people and winning the war on terror by detecting, disrupting, and dismantling terrorist activity before it occurs. Though there have been no abuses of PATRIOT Act authorities found, this legislation is more protective of civil liberties concerns than current law in dozens of areas by increasing congressional oversight and judicial review," said Chairman Sensenbrenner.

"I'm pleased most House Members saw through the blatant misinformation that continues to be spread by opponents of this anti- terrorism law. The Senate must act responsibly by approving this legislation and not allow these vital authorities to lapse. The public is put at much greater risk if PATRIOT Act opponents succeed in waving the white flag of surrender in the war on terror by reverting to pre-9/11 tools and mindset.

"This conference report permanently tears down 'the wall' that prior to 9/11 kept the CIA and FBI from talking and sharing information and hindered their ability to 'connect the dots.' We must permanently eliminate 'the wall' and never allow it to return - - and this agreement does that. This agreement also ensures our tools to fight the next Mohammed Atta intent on killing thousands of Americans are at least as tough as those to fight drug dealers and organized crime."

Some Conference Report Highlights:

-- Permanently tears down "the wall" that had prevented information sharing between law enforcement and the intelligence community (from both House and Senate bills)

-- Makes permanent 14 of the 16 expiring PATRIOT Act provisions (from both House and Senate bills)

-- Places a 4-year sunset on Sections 206 and 215 of PATRIOT Act and the "lone wolf" terrorist provision (from Senate bill)

-- Prohibits narco-terrorism (from House bill)

-- Fights crime and terrorism at America's seaports (from House bill)

-- Combats terrorism financing (from House bill)

-- Expands and make permanent the law prohibiting material support to terrorists (from House bill)

-- Enhances penalties for attacks against railroad and mass transit (from House bill)

-- Narrows definition of terrorism (from House bill)

-- Makes certain air piracy crimes subject to the death penalty (similar to House bill)

-- Establishes a judicial review process for Section 215 that authorizes the judge to set aside, modify, or affirm a 215 order that has been challenged (compromise between House and Senate)

-- Requires adoption of minimization procedures governing the retention and dissemination of tangible items obtained under section 215 (from Senate Intelligence Committee bill)

-- Creates National Security Division as requested by the Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction.

-- Authorizes lifetime judicial supervision of terrorists (from House bill)

-- Extends the duration of FISA surveillance of non-U.S. persons to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles (from both House and Senate bills)

-- Contains comprehensive reforms on the use of NSLs, including judicial review, mechanisms for disclosure, and reporting to Congress on the frequency of their use (compromise between House and Senate)

-- Contains comprehensive measure to address the national methamphetamine abuse epidemic (similar to House and Senate legislation).

http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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