Hon. Michael G. Oxley: “I support our action today to reauthorize the USA PATRIOT Act. Within weeks after the horrendous terrorist attacks of…”

“I support our action today to reauthorize the USA PATRIOT Act. Within weeks after the horrendous terrorist attacks of 2001, Congress responded with the PATRIOT Act, providing our law enforcement and intelligence communities with much-needed tools to track down terrorists, sever their communications and funding networks, and prevent future attacks on our citizens. As chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, I was proud to help write the antiterrorist financing provisions of this act. Millions of dollars in terrorist assets have been frozen or seized since 9/11. We have broken up suspected terrorist financing networks, including one in my home State of Ohio. The terrorist financing tools included in the act were further supplemented by the intelligence reform legislation approved in the wake of the 9/11 Commission's report. As a former special agent of the FBI, I know that other sections of the PATRIOT Act have proven just as vital in assisting law enforcement combat the new threat of international terrorism. I am pleased that this reauthorization makes permanent all but a few of the act's expiring provisions, but regret that the 4-year sunset for the remaining authorities was made a part of this final product. Including any sunset sends the wrong signal to our law enforcement agencies, indicating that our trust in them is incomplete at a time when their services have helped prevent further terrorist attacks.…”