The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“OPPOSING THE PATRIOT ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1001-E1002 on May 31, 2011.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
OPPOSING THE PATRIOT ACT
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HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
of minnesota
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I firmly believe the United States can secure our communities without sacrificing the rights and liberties that generations of Americans have fought so hard to protect. The PATRIOT Act fails this common sense test, which is why I have consistently opposed it and will vote against the extension of its provisions again today.
The reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act under consideration by the House today extends provisions that give the Federal Government sweeping authority to spy on United States citizens. One such provision allows the government to obtain ``any tangible thing'' in its anti-
terrorism investigation--including library or bookstore records--
regardless of its relevance to the case. Another provision allows Federal law enforcement to obtain wiretaps without being required to identify the person, building, or business being spied upon to a secret court. During the Bush Administration, the Justice Department used this authority to illegally wiretap American citizens. Evidence of past abuses demand that the Patriot Act be reformed with stricter oversight and better safeguards to ensure security does not come at the cost of our Constitutional freedoms. Regretfully, the legislation on the floor today does not fix these problem provisions.
The threat of terrorism is real and persistent. My first priority as a Member of Congress is to keep America safe. Be assured I will continue working with President Obama and my colleagues in Congress to ensure that all levels of law enforcement have the tools and flexibility they require.
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