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Skriven 2005-12-21 23:32:56 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (051221) for Wed, 2005 Dec 21
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President Urges Senate to Reauthorize Patriot Act and Pass Defense Bill
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 21, 2005

President Urges Senate to Reauthorize Patriot Act and Pass Defense Bill
The South Lawn


˙˙˙˙˙

10:11 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. The Senate is debating two very important
measures, and I urge the United States Senate to pass the Defense
Appropriations Bill. It is an important piece of legislation that provides
necessary funding for our troops who are fighting in Afghanistan and in
Iraq, and who are serving our country around the world. It's an obligation
of every member of the United States Senate to provide necessary funding
for our troops on the front lines so that we can fight and win the war on
terror.

And the second important piece of legislation is the Patriot Act. In order
to protect America, the United States Senate must reauthorize the Patriot
Act. The terrorists still want to hit us again. There is an enemy that
lurks, a dangerous group of people that want to do harm to the American
people -- and we must have the tools necessary to protect the American
people. The Patriot Act passed overwhelmingly shortly after the September
the 11th attack. It has been an effective tool; it has worked.

And the same as we protected the American people using the Patriot Act,
we've also protected their civil liberties. There is extensive oversight on
this very important program. The Patriot Act tore down the wall between law
enforcement and intelligence communities, which makes it easier to connect
the dots before an attack. The Patriot Act also gave law enforcement tools
to investigate terrorism that they have already got to investigate other
types of crimes.

The Patriot Act is scheduled to expire at the end of this year. The
terrorist threat is not going to expire at the end of this year. The House
has voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act, and they left town, because they
thought their -- because their business is finished. The Senate is still
debating this issue. A majority of the United States Senate supports
reauthorization; a minority of senators is filibustering and preventing the
Senate from voting to renew the Patriot Act. The Senate Democratic Leader
recently boasted about killing the Patriot Act. This obstruction is
inexcusable. The senators obstructing the Patriot Act need to understand
that the expiration of this vital law will endanger America and will leave
us in a weaker position in the fight against brutal killers. It's important
that the Senate act quickly on these two bills.

Thank you very much.

END 10:14 A.M. EST

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