Political Quotes

“I am very pleased with the conference report, H.R. 3199, to renew the PATRIOT Act. I want to thank and compliment all the conferees and the administration for bringing this about. By renewing this measure, we are continuing to provide our law enforcement agencies and the administration with many of the critical tools needed to combat global terrorism and protect America. Provisions of the PATRIOT Act have already been instrumental in warding off further terrorist attacks since 9/11, and they are responsible for helping to keep us safe here at home. In addition, the bill includes an added provision, which I authored, offering a new tool to attack the growing phenomenon of narco- terrorism, with the proceeds of illicit drug funding and financing feeding the Foreign Terrorist Organizations, FTOs, and supporting acts of terrorism. Passage of the PATRIOT Act conference report will enhance Federal criminal law to effectively address the current reality, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, of illicit drugs being linked to nearly half of the designated FTOs around the globe today. In this measure, my provision makes narco-terrorism, which involves both the illicit drug trade and support for terrorism, a Federal crime, and provides tough penalties that match the nature of such deadly and dual criminal activity.…”