Political Quotes

“Reclaiming my time, and thanking the gentlelady from Minnesota for coming to the floor on short notice to add clarity to this discussion and this debate and having the courage to stand up on these constitutional principles. I have had it pointed out to me that the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution limits the Patriot Act. It's the protection against unreasonable search and seizure. Unreasonable. And these searches and seizures that have been found to be reasonable, in many cases by our Supreme Court across this land, are very well settled law, and the Patriot Act fits within the parameters of existing domestic surveillance. And I would add that this Congress has protected itself in this fashion: that the major components of this Patriot Act that have been extended are extended for 4 years. That means that this Congress comes back again and evaluates the Patriot Act for constitutional and functionality within this 4-year period of time, and it will require reauthorization again. So we're carefully walking down this path making sure that the abuses do not take place. And I, as a member of the Judiciary Committee and as one who has gone up to the secure room and gone through a number of secure briefings that had to do with the functionality of the Patriot Act--it's a requirement on some of our parts here in this Congress to do that.…”