Opening Statement to Conference Committee: USA Patriot Act

OPENING STATEMENT TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: USA PATRIOT ACT

Mr. Chairman, four years ago our Nation faced a deadly attack from a vicious enemy. Thousands of people -- from 115 nations -- were killed at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in rural Pennsylvania. As a result of those attacks, more than 3,000 children lost a parent.

Like every other American, I will always remember that day, and the weeks and months that followed. It was a sad, tragic time. But, it was also a time when Americans came together with a common purpose and for a common cause.

In Congress, we tried to do our part, as well. In late October 2001, we passed the PATRIOT Act in an effort to provide our government with the tools it needed to fight terrorists. Much of what we did in the PATRIOT Act was long overdue. The law broke down "the wall" between the FBI and the CIA, allowing the two agencies to share information about suspected terrorists. It brought terrorism investigations into the 21st century by allowing federal agents to use wire taps when investigating terrorists. And, it permitted service providers -- such as Internet companies -- to provide the government with information, when there was an emergency involving the potential of death or serious injury to an individual.

These, and other, innovations have yielded great success. By breaking down "the wall," we have enhanced our ability to catch terrorists before they strike. Federal officials have used the PATRIOT Act in several prominent terrorism cases. And, the PATRIOT Act has been used to help us quickly locate the victims of kidnapping, to protect children in child exploitation cases, and to respond to bomb and death threats. At the end of this year, however, 16 of the PATRIOT Act's provisions are set to expire. And, once again, we come together with a common purpose and for a common cause: to reauthorize that Act and help protect our country.

In the Senate, we passed a bill back in the summer that not only reauthorized the PATRIOT Act, but did so in a way that was able to gather the unanimous consent of our body. There is much to be said for the Senate bill now before this Committee. It makes permanent nearly all of the provisions of the original Act, thereby ensuring that our law enforcement officials have the tools they need to fight the War on Terror. For the Act's most controversial provisions, it adds procedural safeguards that have gathered the support of civil liberties and business groups. And, it extends sunsets on a few provisions, while adding additional reporting requirements, so that Congress can continue to monitor law enforcement's use of the PATRIOT Act in the years to come.

To me, the Senate bill strikes a proper balance between our constant need for security and our historic respect for civil liberties. I hope that we can work together to forge a final package that maintains such a balance, while still providing law enforcement officials with the resources and flexibility they need to keep Americans safe.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, I want to address an issue that is particularly important to the people of Ohio: homeland security grant funding. As you know, the House bill contains a provision that changes the way that homeland security grants are distributed to the States. This is a very difficult issue and one that has divided the members of both houses for some time.

Before adopting any changes in this area, however, we should seek significant input and participation from the members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Senators COLLINS and LIEBERMAN have worked on this issue for several years and have amassed a tremendous amount of knowledge as to which approach would ultimately provide the highest level of security for the American public. I ask for their participation in this matter, as well.

I am proud of the work that we have done so far on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act and look forward to the work ahead. Just as we did in the weeks following the September 11th attacks, I have no doubt that we will forge a final package that not only reauthorizes the Act, but does so in a way that can garner the support of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle. When it comes to fighting terrorism, we should be mindful of our common purpose and join in our common cause. The American people expect nothing less.

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