Nadler Applauds House Support for Oversight of PATRIOT Act Powers

Nadler Applauds House Support for Oversight of PATRIOT Act Powers
November 9, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives today agreed to sunset three controversial provisions of the PATRIOT Act after four years. Hard-line House supporters of the President's policies had previously insisted on implementing only two ten-year sunsets.

"The House showed a desperately needed measure of common sense in agreeing to four-year sunsets today," Congressman Nadler said. "It's clear that we need expanded law-enforcement powers to fight terrorism, but it's just as clear that we need to be rigorous in monitoring the use of those powers. Implementing four-year sunsets on the PATRIOT Act's most controversial provisions is the very least we can do to ensure proper oversight."

Congressman Nadler was appointed today to the House-Senate conference committee. The committee will meet over the next few days to draft a final version of the legislation, which was reauthorized separately by both houses earlier this year. The motion to instruct conferees passed by the House today essentially sets forth an agreement that the House will accede to the Senate's four-year sunsets on Section 206, Section 215, and the so-called Lone Wolf provision. The original version of the PATRIOT Act, passed in the weeks following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, included 16 four-year sunsets.

Congressman Nadler has argued throughout the reauthorization process that frequently recurring sunsets are critical to adequate congressional oversight of the PATRIOT Act. Many provisions of the legislation are considered by conservative and liberal groups alike to threaten Americans' civil liberties.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny08_nadler/PatSunsetSupport110905.html