Louise Slaughter: “I know that we all agree on the urgent need to combat foreign and domestic terrorism. I wish the Committee on Rules had…”

“I know that we all agree on the urgent need to combat foreign and domestic terrorism. I wish the Committee on Rules had adopted an open rule, which is the only way that we can fully debate such an important and controversial issue. Several of our colleagues were denied the opportunity to offer important amendments, including one which would ban armor-piercing bullets, something we badly need. I was denied a chance to offer an amendment which would have closed loopholes in the current explosives law and mandate a background check for individuals purchasing explosives. Although the FBI has documented that criminal bombings have doubled in the past 6 years, this unprecedented increase will continue to go unchecked and the legal loopholes in current law will persist because I was not allowed to bring the amendment to the floor. Despite the restrictive rule, I want to commend the chairman and members of the Committee on the Judiciary for including measures to protect innocent people from bombs made of plastic explosives.”