On the recordFebruary 8, 2011
I thank the gentleman for allowing me to speak on this very important issue, the reauthorization of the Patriot Act. For a variety of reasons, we need to reauthorize this bill. First and foremost, there are three provisions I think we are all very familiar with. It's the lone wolf provision, it's the roving wiretaps of course, which is something else that we very much need to do, and also the business records provision. With respect to roving wiretaps, I believe it has already been stated on this floor, but it should be stated once again: Law enforcement has been using roving wiretaps for years against drug dealers and organized crime, I believe since 1986. Extending that roving wiretap provision to terrorists makes good sense. We have been doing it. We need to give law enforcement and our intelligence services the tools they need to take down these terror plots before they become operational. That is why this extension is needed. The lone wolf provision, it should be noted, is also important. Many of the types of plots we are trying to foil now are being carried out by lone wolves. Major Hasan is a good example. Jihad Jane and others are lone wolves, and we need this capacity so that we can pursue these lone wolves just as we would individuals or terrorists who are part of a terrorist organization or an agent of a foreign power. So that is absolutely essential.
