Ron Kind: “of all the issues we have considered, and will consider, in the aftermath of September 11, securing the safety of our…”

“of all the issues we have considered, and will consider, in the aftermath of September 11, securing the safety of our Nation against the threat of terrorism may prove to be the most challenging aspect of our recovery and security focus. One reason the terrorists targeted our Nation is because of the freedoms we enjoy as a nation, and the importance we place on individual liberty. By nature, the openness of American society is a liability when it comes to public safety. The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have shown us that virtually any possible threat may be realized. The challenge of securing the Land of the Free is a delicate task. By considering the laws that protect personal privacy we risk alienating those values on which our Nation was founded. In taking on this challenge, I commend the Chairman and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee for recognizing the fundamental importance of this task, and working together to draft legislation in a fair and respectful manner. I just wish that process had been followed through all the way to the end instead of being hijacked the night before. The legislation before us today is not perfect. I, like many Members, have reservations about expanding boundaries in which Government may more easily encroach on personal privacy.”