Earl Blumenauer: “the PATRIOT Act was enacted in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, rushed through the House as a suspension bill the…”

“the PATRIOT Act was enacted in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, rushed through the House as a suspension bill the day after it was introduced. This process didn't permit the public, let alone Congress, to fully understand it. The original bill was rewritten in the Rules Committee instead of the bipartisan bill that was unanimously passed out of the Judiciary Committee. Luckily, there were a few sunset provisions that were intended to help keep people honest and evaluate the impacts on the public. We have now been fighting the war on terror longer than World War II with no end in sight. The policy decisions we make affect the lives of everyday Americans. It is important to keep these policies narrowly focused on items that are necessary for dealing with terrorism and today's modern communication developments while not encroaching on American's fundamental rights. This version is a missed opportunity to narrow the provisions and time limit their applications. The good news is the public is becoming more aware and involved. Thirteen municipalities in Oregon, including Portland, have already passed resolutions expressing their opposition to the PATRIOT Act. It seems that the majority of Congress has at least some reservations about this bill. There were more ``no'' votes than four years ago and a bipartisan effort to provide more checks and balances is growing.…”