Dear Mr. XXXXXXXXXXX:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), commonly called the Patriot Act. I appreciate hearing from you on this important subject.
Following the attacks of September 11th, Congress passed the Patriot Act, which provided law enforcement with numerous new capabilities, including greater investigative powers and stronger prosecution methods. Importantly, this legislation also contained a sunset clause that would cause some parts of the Act to lapse after 2005. This sunset clause required Congress to address deficiencies in the original Patriot Act before reauthorizing it.
In July 2005, the Senate unanimously passed its version of a Patriot Act reauthorization bill. The Senate bill strengthened the rules for Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court orders and electronic surveillance to prevent abuses by the Administration that had come to light. Additionally, the Senate bill increased Congressional oversight of the Administration’s use of the Patriot Act provisions. The House of Representatives passed a separate version of the Patriot Act reauthorization, and the Senate and the House met in conference to resolve differences in their two bills.
Unfortunately, the final compromise bill did not include a number of provisions that were included in the Senate-passed bill to prevent abuses and improve civil liberties. One provision that was not included would have allowed for a meaningful judicial review of National Security Letters (NSL) and would have made disclosing the receipt of a NSL a crime. As a result, I voted against the final Patriot Act Reauthorization bill (H.R. 3199).
Congress is currently debating the extension of certain provisions under the Patriot Act. Rest assured, I will continue to scrutinize any efforts to expand on the Patriot Act and the Administration’s use of the powers under this bill. We all must remain vigilant to ensure that neither legislation nor the Administration’s actions strip Americans of our fundamental liberties. Our country is a symbol of liberty and freedom because of the rights we guarantee to all citizens. If we limit those rights in an effort to improve our security, we lose far more than any terrorist could take from us.
Again, thank you for contacting me. As the 112th Congress moves forward, I will keep your views in mind.
Sincerely,
Patty Murray
United States Senator