Nita Lowey: “it is time to give law enforcement officials the tools they need to prevent terrorist attacks in America. The Republican…”

“it is time to give law enforcement officials the tools they need to prevent terrorist attacks in America. The Republican leadership must schedule a vote immediately on stronger measures to fight terrorism. These proposals--requiring taggants in explosives and enhanced wiretapping authority--are absolutely critical in the war against terrorism. These provisions should already be law, but were dropped from the original antiterrorism bill that Congress passed earlier this year. They were dropped because this Republican Congress followed the orders of the National Rifle Association and took them out. That was unacceptable then and it is unacceptable now. Speaker Gingrich must not allow the NRA to hold up swift passage of tough antiterrorism legislation. The Republican leadership must choose the safety and welfare of the American people over the objections of the NRA. This Republican Congress has spent the last 17 months following the orders of the NRA and it must stop. Congress must take a united stand against terrorism both foreign and domestic now. We must make it very clear that we will use all the resources at our disposal to prevent and punish acts of terror.”