In Recognition of H.R. 3199, USA Patriot Act and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005

IN RECOGNITION OF H.R. 3199: USA PATRIOT ACT AND TERRORISM PREVENTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005 -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 29, 2005)

SPEECH OF
HON. NYDIA M. VELÁZQUEZ
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2005

Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this measure which expands expiring provisions of the Patriot Act by granting unlimited investigative powers to our government. This bill gives the government broad powers to secretly collect personal information on medical, library and business and financial records of our Nation's citizens. Additionally, this legislation sunsets provisions that are not about combating terrorism or making us safer, but about intruding upon our privacy and infringing upon our civil liberties.

Mr. Chairman, there is no limit to these surveillance and intelligence powers once they are given to our government. There are no guarantees to the American people that our Nation will be more stable and secure by enforcing these policies, which allow the government to conduct secret searches of your home or office--the so-called sneak and peek warrant--for an indefinite period of time. Our country takes great pride in upholding the true values of our constitution and freedom. However, these provisions certainly contradict these beliefs and, more importantly, the checks and balances intended to safeguard our liberty.

We must understand that neither the original U.S. Patriot Act, nor this legislation, have been subject to the proper oversight. We have evidence that the repercussions of the original Patriot Act has led to abusive powers by this Administration. Since the September 11th attacks, our government has detained and verbally and physically abused thousands of immigrants, without time limits, for unknown and unspecified reasons, and targeted the Arab-American community for intensive interrogations and immigration screenings.

A clear example of this happened in my Congressional district at the Metropolitan Detention Center where 84 detainees where mistreated under the conditions of confinement. This mistreatment was reported and documented by the Department of Justice where it has acknowledged the abuses which were documented by the Inspector General. I clearly recognize the outrage of terrorist attacks and the need to heighten our Nation's security--but not at the expense of undermining our freedom and our democratic values and ideals.

We have not been given the actual facts or had the time to accurately evaluate the ramifications of many of these provisions. Reauthorizing a bill which lacks oversights and expands provisions that violate the privacy of our citizens is undermining the American public's civil rights and misleading our Nation.

This bill fails to protect our Nation and, our civil liberties. It strikes the essence of our checks and balances, subjects individuals to repeated abuse and violates the confidentiality of our personal records. This is plain wrong. If we want to fight terrorism, let's do it the right way, by providing the adequate resources and funding to our homeland security and our local enforcement, by being consistent with our democracy and our true values and principles, I urge my colleagues to vote no on the underlying bill.

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