Jane Harman: “I strongly support powerful, flexible, and modern tools to detect the plans and intentions of terrorists who may be…”

“I strongly support powerful, flexible, and modern tools to detect the plans and intentions of terrorists who may be operating in our country. For that reason, I voted for the PATRIOT Act, even though I believed and still believe there is room for improvement. We are being asked today to extend the PATRIOT Act for 5 weeks so that Congress can continue to work on some of its most controversial provisions. I think this extension makes good sense. We must extend it, mend it, but not end it. To that end, I hope we can soon reach agreement on critical issues. First, we should modify the report to explicitly require that records sought under Section 215--commonly called the Library provision--be connected to a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power. This is the traditional FISA standard. A looser standard invites ``fishing expeditions.'' Second, we should explicitly state 215 recipients have the right to challenge a gag order in court. Third, we should ensure that National Security Leaders are not used as back doors for getting library circulation, medical, tax and educational institutions records, and to modify the ``conclusive presumption'' language which makes it virtually impossible for NSL recipients to challenge ``gag'' orders in court. These and other critical changes to NSLs are included H.R. 4570--a bill that I, my colleagues on the Intelligence Committee, Representative Conyers and other congressional leaders introduced in December.…”