Remarks by President Bush at Signing of USA Patriot Act of 2001

Contact: White House Press Office, 202-483-8932 WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by the White House:

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning and welcome to the White House. Today, we take an essential step in defeating terrorism, while protecting the constitutional rights of all Americans. With my signature, this law will give intelligence and law enforcement officials important new tools to fight a present danger.

I commend the House and Senate for the hard work they put into this legislation. Members of Congress and their staffs spent long nights and weekends to get this important bill to my desk. I appreciate their efforts, and bipartisanship, in passing this new law.

I want to thank the Vice President and his staff for working hard to make sure this law was passed. I want to thank the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Treasury for being here, both of whom lead important parts of our war against terrorism. I want to thank Attorney General John Ashcroft for spending a lot of time on the Hill to make the case for a balanced piece of legislation. I want to thank the Director of the FBI and the Director of the CIA for waging an incredibly important part on the two-front war -- one overseas, and a front here at home.

I want to thank Governor Tom Ridge for his leadership. I want to thank the members of Congress who are here on the stage, the Leaders, on this impressive effort. Senator Hatch and Senator Leahy and Senator Sarbanes and Senator Graham and Senator Reid.

I also want to thank Representative Porter Goss, LaFalce, Oxley, and Sensenbrenner for their hard work. And I want to welcome the men and women of law enforcement who are here in the White House with us today, as well.

The changes, effective today, will help counter a threat like no other our nation has ever faced. We've seen the enemy, and the murder of thousands of innocent, unsuspecting people. They recognize no barrier of morality. They have no conscience. The terrorists cannot be reasoned with. Witness the recent anthrax attacks through our Postal Service.

Our country is grateful for the courage the Postal Service has shown during these difficult times. We mourn the loss of the lives of Thomas Morris and Joseph Curseen; postal workers who died in the line of duty. And our prayers go to their loved ones.

I want to assure postal workers that our government is testing more than 200 postal facilities along the entire Eastern corridor that may have been impacted. And we will move quickly to treat and protect workers where positive exposures are found.

But one thing is for certain: These terrorists must be pursued, they must be defeated, and they must be brought to justice. (Applause.) And that is the purpose of this legislation. Since the 11th of September, the men and women of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been relentless in their response to new and sudden challenges.

We have seen the horrors terrorists can inflict. We may never know what horrors our country was spared by the diligent and determined work of our police forces, the FBI, ATF agents, federal marshals, Custom officers, Secret Service, intelligence professionals and local law enforcement officials, under the most trying conditions. They are serving this country with excellence, and often with bravery.

They deserve our full support and every means of help that we can provide. We're dealing with terrorists who operate by highly sophisticated methods and technologies, some of which were not even available when our existing laws were written. The bill before me takes account of the new realities and dangers posed by modern terrorists. It will help law enforcement to identify, to dismantle, to disrupt, and to punish terrorists before they strike.

For example, this legislation gives law enforcement officials better tools to put an end to financial counterfeiting, smuggling and money-laundering. Secondly, it gives intelligence operations and criminal operations the chance to operate not on separate tracks, but to share vital information so necessary to disrupt a terrorist attack before it occurs.

As of today, we're changing the laws governing information-sharing. And as importantly, we're changing the culture of our various agencies that fight terrorism. Countering and investigating terrorist activity is the number one priority for both law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

Surveillance of communications is another essential tool to pursue and stop terrorists. The existing law was written in the era of rotary telephones. This new law that I sign today will allow surveillance of all communications used by terrorists, including e-mails, the Internet, and cell phones.

As of today, we'll be able to better meet the technological challenges posed by this proliferation of communications technology. Investigations are often slowed by limit on the reach of federal search warrants.

Law enforcement agencies have to get a new warrant for each new district they investigate, even when they're after the same suspect. Under this new law, warrants are valid across all districts and across all states. And, finally, the new legislation greatly enhances the penalties that will fall on terrorists or anyone who helps them.

Current statutes deal more severely with drug-traffickers than with terrorists. That changes today. We are enacting new and harsh penalties for possession of biological weapons. We're making it easier to seize the assets of groups and individuals involved in terrorism. The government will have wider latitude in deporting known terrorists and their supporters. The statute of limitations on terrorist acts will be lengthened, as will prison sentences for terrorists.

This bill was carefully drafted and considered. Led by the members of Congress on this stage, and those seated in the audience, it was crafted with skill and care, determination and a spirit of bipartisanship for which the entire nation is grateful. This bill met with an overwhelming -- overwhelming agreement in Congress, because it upholds and respects the civil liberties guaranteed by our Constitution.

This legislation is essential not only to pursuing and punishing terrorists, but also preventing more atrocities in the hands of the evil ones. This government will enforce this law with all the urgency of a nation at war. The elected branches of our government, and both political parties, are united in our resolve to fight and stop and punish those who would do harm to the American people.

Ok, you find the terrorists. If our current laws protect terrorist activity just what in the world do you suggest? Do you think the terrorists are not going to commit unlawful searches, offend your rights, kill you?

We are in war for our survival. Sacrifices will have to be made. I don't know if you have noticed but we also now have to fear that someone has put a deadly disease in our mail and is planning on attacking our food and water or bomb us with a nuclear weapon. You provide the government with the answers how to catch them using our current laws. If you can't, maybe you will understand the problem the government faces.

This is not a perfect world since some terrorists decided to come over here and fly our airplanes into towers killing thousands. We have to do something.

One other thing, what about the rights of the soldiers having to go fight this war? Seems like their right to a home life, their right to freely come and go, their right to spend time with their children also has been put on hold. Sure don't hear them complaining.

Article IV.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I guess if I am subject to search at any given time, this means no longer means anything.

---max

We are in war for our survival.

Really?. Why then has Congress not declared war?. And since it is a war for survival as you state, how will we know when we win?, what can I tell my kids to look forward to as a victory? I mean since I am being asked to sacrifice, how will I know when I've sacrificed enough?, can you tell me.? Just what do we need to do so that people in the rest of the world won't want to kill us?. Who or what has been done to these people that they are fanatic enough to become kamikazi's?.

Since this is a "war", why don't we declare war and start really conducting war. Let's figure out what we need to do and build, allocate resources at a national level and win in as little time as possible.

BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. We get the "Patriot Act" which allows the government to act as if we are all terrorists and a new bureaucracy to feed us all bull$hit.

Remember to smile when you bend over.

---max

Ok Max, you just go sit in the corner and whine. Do you think any of us know any of that - no - but that does not mean we don't get killed.

I have a suggestion. Why don't you start a petition to get rid of the Terrorist Bill. Why don't you figure a way to find the terrorists and get it done without needing to get intelligence through emails, telephone wiretaps, etc? The Pentagon is asking for all kind of help - I'm sure you have wonderful ideas of how all can be handled to keep us free without anthrax and without airplanes crashing into our buildings and, yet, still have no one knocking on doors, doing wiretaps, etc. They are waiting on your information.

Why don't we declare war? Who do we declare war on? You declare war on a country - not a terrorist. In addition, I heard something a long time ago that the reason might be that if war is declared it affects insurance claims and through that avenue has an effect on the economy. It also limits other aspects. I assure you the declaration of war has been reviewed as any president would do. There is a reason it has not been declared - I don't know the reason but there is one. Look at the advantages and disadvantages of declaring war if you are so hung up on this aspect.

Now go into your corner and feel sorry for yourself - you are alive, you are here in the U.S. and not going in to be blown up and someone will kill them for you before they make it over here to get you. Poor pitiful Max.

We are so very fortunate to have this man as our President.

Speak for yourself. Some of us don't like that this man has signed into law an era of unbridled government intrusion.

The "USA Patriot Act of 2001"? Good Lord, these people play games with semantics even more brazenly than the Clintonistas. I suppose anyone NOT supporting this bill should be considered UN-patriotic now, right?

Bushies are just like Clintonites... they were simply lucky enough to have a convenient national tragedy give them their excuse for more power.

Since September 11, I have proudly flown the American flag from the peak of my home, nonstop, and I have encouraged my neighbors to do the same. Five minutes ago I pulled it down and tossed it in a box. The America it stood for, as far as I'm concerned, died the moment Bush signed that bill. Congress and the President have now managed to undermine our 225 year history of freedom and individual liberties in the name of "security". He has declared that the safety of the whole and the preservation of the state is more inportant than the rights of the individual. Folks, that's the definition of fascism. The sad fact is that, at this very moment, George Bush and the members of BOTH Congressional houses are a far greater threat to my security than any townhead terrorist hiding in a cave halfway around the world.

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