Rep. Johnson's statement on extension of the USA Patriot Act provisions

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 514, which would reauthorize expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act without important modifications necessary to safeguard our civil liberties.

While the threat of terrorism is real, and law enforcement must have the right tools to protect Americans, any counterterrorism measure must have a solid Constitutional footing and respect the privacy and civil liberties of the American people.

This legislation fails to address shortcomings in the original PATRIOT Act legislation. For that reason, I will vote against it.

One of the major problems with this bill is its failure to address the issuance and use of National Security Letters.

These letters permit the government to obtain the communications of anyone deemed relevant to a terrorism investigation, even if that person is not suspected of unlawful behavior.

If Congress reauthorizes these provisions with no changes, Americans will remain subject to warrantless intrusions into their personal affairs – a gross overreach of federal investigative authority that could be abused.

It’s just not how we do things in this country.

Rather than taking the time to craft reforms that will better protect private citizens’ communications and privacy from overbroad government surveillance, the Republican majority simply wants to cram this bill through without providing an opportunity for anyone to offer amendments that will improve the bill.

We all acknowledge that law enforcement needs new tools to keep up with twenty first century threats.

But surely it is the responsibility of Congress to re-examine legislation that was hurried through Congress in the wake of 9/11 to make sure it lives up to our national ideals.

Because this bill fails to contain any checks and balances to prevent law enforcement abuses and protect civil liberties, I will be voting against it and urge my colleagues to do the same.

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