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.

But we will in no way pursue the Clinton administration for the crimes committed against the American people.

everything started going down hill since 1913, whether these scares are created or just taken advantage of I know not. either way the globosocialist are getting their agenda through. they are most likely laughing themselves silly thinking of the people they were able to dupe. patting each other on the back saying they still think we're conservatives and would not do anything to trash the constitution.

the last time I saw a set of lips like those of the blindly following bushtheyounger crowd, there was a fish hook in them.

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~~ (New World ODOR) people.

I think we will be at war from now until we replace this government. Partners in the Communist United Nations is not my dream. Smaller Federal government is but that is just my unreachable dream as long as this group is in Washington.

Two things, regarding WE THE PEOPLE:

#1: Back then, we were extremely careful about who we let in our borders. If we hadn't had an INS that's asleep at the wheel and run by liberals, the damn terrorists wouldn't have gotten in our borders in the first place!

#2: The secularization of our society has produced ever-larger numbers of people who do not live morally. Plus, the liberal judges let criminals off the hook. End result: the terrorists and thugs have free reign in our country. The fact that enough sinful idiots put a psychopath and his malignant narcissist wife in office twice speaks for itself. If we as a people had been more vigilant about demanding moral and ethical behavior from our politicians and fellow citizens, and had kept the turdworld trash out, then America would still be safe.

What is so fishy about this Patriot Act is that it has 30,000 words, yet supposedly it was written in 6 short weeks?!?! Who exactly wrote it? When did they start drafting it? This is scary. It appears that this was being written and ironed out for quite some time.

You know, I have read all the arguments back and forth about this (over 220 now) and you seem to have brought up the most thought provoking point of all in the shortest amount of space, IMHO. This Bill was proposed within a week (or less) of the attacks. I remember thinking to myself then that it seemed AWFULLY quick that the Bill was ready and waiting. Anyone who is pro Anti-terrorism Bill want to explain this in a rational and meaningful way? The "Republican's can do no wrong" response doesn't answer the question. Something intelligent please.

You are not allowed to think about such things (supposedly it was written in 6 short weeks?!?! ) anymore.

Stand in line with your head down until you are told to look up, then do not look the HomeFront guardsman in the eye or you will be hit in the face with a club.

That is to say, a FORM of the Bill was first introduced very quickly. How long it was originally I do not know.

In my own personal opinion and coclusions about this thus far, for whatever it's worth, I just think it is a lose-lose situaion - Damned if you do damned if you don't.

I do not believe our founding fathers ever faced such a horrific threat which we are currenly facing.

The Founders spent years being invaded by the mightiest nation on Earth, which would have hanged them for treason if it had won. It doesn't get much worse than that.

you seem to be able to put an awful lot of trust in the ability of the government to define terrorism

Most of the new powers are not linked to any definition of terrorism. The government can use them if it's after you for any old reason -- they suspect you of having an illegal gun, they don't think you've paid enough taxes, whatever.

anyone you and the other anarchist malcontents

There's no need to embarrass our leaders by pointing out the flaws in our society that they're aware of and dealing with in their own way. Some people just enjoy finding fault with our leaders! They're anarchists, they're trouble makers or they're simply just unpatriotic.

We have to do something.

How is it that we never (except here and in a few similar niches) hear suggestions for "something" that enhances liberty and actually works (e.g. encouraging rather than harassing honest citizens who wish to arm themselves to defend themselves and their communities)?

It just blows my mind people think this is a good thing. Our founding fathers must be rolling over in their graves today.

No real person I know, on the left or right, supports this. This is supported by authoritarian politicians.

Remember, friends, who did this to us when it finally starts to dawn on everyone what has just happened to our freedom. Remember that it was Republicans who shoved this rubber ball down the American Eagle's throat!

It's not really fair to blame the republicans. The vast majority of both mainstream parties are made up of socialist authoritarians who care about nothing but increasing their wealth and power over us. Both parties support this bill, and both should be ashamed.

It's obvious to anyone with a multiple-digit IQ that this government wish list was written long ago, with a few minor revisions to fit the crisis du jour. Several of the provisions (e.g. roving wiretaps, e-mail surveillance) were in the "anti-terrorist" powers Billzebubba tried to get after Oklahoma City.

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