Patriot Act Deserves More than a Short-Term Extension

On the president’s desk waiting for his signature is my bill extending the Patriot Act for 90 days. Both the House and Senate passed this bill in the last week.

While I’m glad these provisions were extended, as they keep important intelligence-gathering provisions in place, I wish the Senate would have passed the original House bill, as that bill extended the act until Dec. 8.

Repeatedly extending these provisions for the short-term creates needless uncertainty for our intelligence agencies. 

Extension after extension, year after year, challenge after challenge, these three provisions continue to pass the smell test.  These provisions help law enforcement in three ways: they grant authority for court approved roving wiretaps on terror suspects as they change phones or locations; they allow the court approved examination of a terror suspects business records; and finally, the "lone wolf provision" allows the surveillance of suspicious foreigners (not Americans). 

Since the Patriot Act was enacted, these provisions have been scrutinized to the fullest extent of the law and have always been found constitutional.  Additionally, no civil liberties have ever been violated.

These three provisions have stopped countless potential attacks and play a critical role in helping ensure law enforcement officials have the tools they need to keep our country safe and stop terrorist groups before they attack. 

Finally, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano recently warned that “the terrorist threat is at its most heightened state since (the 9/11 terrorist) attacks.”  Our nation can’t afford to leave our intelligence officials vulnerable.  The terrorist threat has not subsided and sadly, will likely not expire.  Neither should our national security laws.  

I remain hopeful that the House and Senate will move quickly to hold hearings and reauthorize the Patriot Act, so we can avoid the need for another short-term extension and focus on the long-term safety of our nation.