Alcee Hastings: “My amendment is simple. It makes it easier for our Government to prosecute those persons who provide material support…”

“My amendment is simple. It makes it easier for our Government to prosecute those persons who provide material support knowing that the support will be used in acts commonly associated with terrorism. It is designed to buttress existing Federal law and to make those who knowingly support these crimes accountable. ... we must somehow or another get at the roots of terrorism by giving our law enforcement authorities the ability to prosecute those persons who, while they may not actually carry out the activities themselves, enable the terrorists to operate here in the United States as well as elsewhere. My amendment had hoped to be able to address that specific subject by expanding the enumerated crimes. ... Mr. Chairman, it is time to get tough on terrorism. The amendment I am offering today will do just that.”