Dana Rohrabacher: “Thank you. Mr. Speaker, when Congress passed the Patriot Act in 2001 in the aftermath of 9/11, we mandated sunsets on…”

“Thank you. Mr. Speaker, when Congress passed the Patriot Act in 2001 in the aftermath of 9/11, we mandated sunsets on the provisions that dramatically expanded Federal investigative and enforcement powers, especially those that could infringe on the freedom of American citizens. Sunsets meant that Congress would have to specifically extend the time on those powers or they would expire. Five years ago, the last time around, the Bush administration attempted to make permanent this crisis-related expansion of authority by removing the sunsets. Let me congratulate my friend from California who spent so much time trying to make sure the sunsets were in, and Dan, we know that you worked really hard to make sure those sunsets were put in, but not all of them were. This power grab on the part of the Bush administration was thwarted by good Members like Dan Lungren who are with us today in this debate. Today, a few controversial sections are still scheduled to periodically sunset. The congressional action to extend these provisions deserves hearings, adequate debate, and the right to amend, thus ensuring accountability and transparency on such a significant issue. We have not met this standard this time around. The Republican leadership has committed to a more acceptable process by December, when the extension of this bill comes up for a vote again. I hope I will be able to vote ``yes'' at that time. Until then, it is ``no.''”