OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

McDermott: "Freedom Does Not Have To Be Compromised To Defend Liberty"

Statement

Date: Feb. 8, 2011
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security

Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), preceding the vote to extend the PATRIOT Act, entered the following statement into the Congressional Record:

"I voted against the PATRIOT Act in 2001, voted against its extension in 2005, and will again vote against it again today. The PATRIOT Act was sold as a measure to ensure the safety of the American people. Instead, the PATRIOT Act has served primarily to subvert fundamental rights afforded to American citizens.

"A plain extension of the PATRIOT Act, without revisiting its many problems and abuses, is a huge mistake and missed opportunity to truly protect our country against terrorism and do so in the confines of the Constitution.

"Freedom does not have to be compromised to defend liberty. Continuing to weaken fundamental American principles will not leave us more secure, but instead more vulnerable. Through mutual trust and fearlessness, we can progress together.

"It is time to stop extending the PATRIOT Act and restore full American freedoms and liberty to our citizens."


Source
arrow_upward