Steny Hoyer: “some time ago we passed an act. It was called the PATRIOT Act. It was voted upon by the overwhelming majority of us. The…”

“some time ago we passed an act. It was called the PATRIOT Act. It was voted upon by the overwhelming majority of us. The objective then was to ensure the safety of democracy and the survival of freedom. That was the objective of the PATRIOT Act. Now, there are many in this House, indeed the majority, who believed that there were provisions in that act that undermined democracy. The gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) and the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter) and others raised a very specific provision of that PATRIOT Act as undermining of our democracy, of our civil liberties, and of our freedom. The vote was called on that amendment, and at the expiration of 15 minutes, the majority of the House indicated that they supported the amendment offered by the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders), the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter), and others. And then the vote continued, and it continued, and it continued, for over twice as long as the Speaker of the House early this year indicated votes would be held; indeed, for 38 minutes.”