On the recordFebruary 14, 2011
I want to say that since Congress first passed the Patriot Act in 2001 that we have been continually challenged on this question of our constitutional duties to act as a coequal branch of government and that it is my belief that we have failed to conduct checks and balances over government power. I want to associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) in that regard and that we have failed to conduct robust and effective oversight. And in connection with the gentleman from Wisconsin, some of the remarks that you have made about what we needed to do, I think you have made some good points on that. I also think that we have a responsibility here to protect the American people from overt infringements on their most basic civil liberties, and I see this continuing extension as being a challenge to that. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 514.
