Ferguson Votes to Renew Patriot Act, Strengthen Homeland Security

FERGUSON VOTES TO RENEW PATRIOT ACT, STRENGTHEN HOMELAND SECURITY
December 14, 2005

WASHINGTON - Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-N.J., on Wednesday voted to renew the Patriot Act, saying the post-9/11 law gives federal law enforcement and intelligence officials the tools to disrupt terrorist activity and protect America.

The legislation, which won House approval 251-174, would make permanent 14 expiring provisions of the 2001 law and extend two others - on the FBI's power to seek roving wiretaps and seize business records - to 2009.

It is unclear when the legislation will receive a vote in the Senate. Without congressional action, the expiring provisions of the law expire Dec. 31.

Ferguson, who voted for the Patriot Act in the weeks following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, said the law is a key tool to crack down on terrorists and disrupt terrorist activity.

"The Patriot Act remains a vitally important resource to protect America from terrorists, and it would be wrong to deny law enforcement officials the resources they need to keep us safe," Ferguson said after the vote.

The 2001 Patriot Act removed legal barriers that prevented federal law enforcement and intelligence officials from coordinating their work in counter-terror investigations; allowed law enforcement to use surveillance against more terror-related activities; updated the law to reflect new technologies and new threats; and increased penalties for those who commit terrorist crimes and those who harbor terrorists.

http://www.house.gov/ferguson/20051214.shtml