Now, if it isn't unconstitutional, and it's working, then really, I don't think that we should break something that doesn't need fixing.

I do take a little bit of a pride of authorship in the fact that with the Sensenbrenner PATRIOT Act, 15 of the 17 expanded law enforcement provisions either went unchallenged as to their constitutionality in almost 8 years.

Congress must reauthorize the expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act before December 31st of this year, and the clock is ticking.

I have long believed that civil liberties and national security need not be in conflict, and I hope to work with my colleagues to strike that balance in a responsible and effective manner.

In 2001, the USA PATRIOT Act was passed with wide bipartisan support.

I would say that, in many cases, you have vindicated many of the assertions that I made, both as the author of the PATRIOT Act in 2001 as well as the author of the PATRIOT Act reauthorization, which was signed by the President in March of…

Right-minded people such as Dawn Johnson, whose nomination, surprisingly, is still pending in the other body, has worked to reform the Office of Legal Counsel, reform that process and keep it on a very solid, professional footing.

We have lived through several years now of secret law from the Office of Legal Counsel. It has been a national disgrace.

We really all ought to see the Office of Legal Counsel opinion. That is this Administration's view of what due process entails.

You can't have a discussion--and I think no Member of the House should--can be expected to act responsibly, to vote responsibly and intelligently on pending legislation without access to that opinion.

James Madison used the strongest of terms when stating the House must be composed of only those elected by the people.