Jim Sensenbrenner: “Mr. Speaker, this is the latest step in a long process to attempt to pass a bill and send to the President a bill that…”

“Mr. Speaker, this is the latest step in a long process to attempt to pass a bill and send to the President a bill that is vitally needed. It is vitally needed by our law enforcement officials who are fighting the battle at home. We do not know how this battle will be fought. We do not know what tactics the enemy will take. We do not know what agents the enemy will use. What we need is we need to get the intelligence necessary to protect the people of the United States of America from whatever the enemy has up its sleeve. The Committee on the Judiciary did marvelous work. The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) was a joy to work with, as were all of the other members of the committee when we reported the bill out 36 to nothing. The other body did not have committee consideration. They took their bill directly to the floor and passed it 96 to one. What we have before us here today is the result of a preconference that had bipartisan and bicameral participation.”