2001 Ron Paul 83:1
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce
the Securing American Families Effectively
(SAFE) Act. The SAFE Act makes commonsense
changes to federal law that will enhance
the government’s ability to prevent terrorist
incidents. Unlike other proposals, my
legislation in no way threatens the constitutional
liberties of the American people. In fact,
the only people threatened under the SAFE
Act are terrorists.
2001 Ron Paul 83:2
The SAFE Act repeals regulations preventing
agencies who deal with terrorism from
sharing information among themselves. Currently,
there are limits on sharing data with
policy makers and there is a nearly unanimous
agreement on lifting these restrictions. Removing
the restrictions on data sharing is a good
step which provides more — not less — openness
and governmnent transparency.
2001 Ron Paul 83:3
Hard as it may be to believe, there are actually
existing directives in the law enforcement
and intelligence communities which grant suspects
“extra-legal” rights. These “special”
rights could, and should, be clarified without
changing existing law. This is why the SAFE
Act adopts several of the administration’s proposals
to change the procedures regarding
prosecutions of terrorism, such as eliminating
the statute of limitations for terrorist offenses.
2001 Ron Paul 83:4
Perhaps the most significant change made
to procedures is codifying that probable cause
is the maximum standard for an investigation
of terrorism. According to information received
by my office some federal agencies actually
have to meet a higher standard than the constitutional
standard of probable cause in order
to launch an investigation of suspected terrorists.
It is absurd to make the FBI meet a higher
standard to initiate an investigation of a terrorist
than to initiate an investigation of an insider
trader!
2001 Ron Paul 83:5
Finally, the SAFE Act drastically reduces immigration
from countries on the State Department’s
terrorist list and countries which refuse
to provide assistance in the battle against terrorists.
Whatever one’s feelings on other questions
connected with immigration, I would
hope we all could agree that the United States
has an obligation to keep those who may be
threats to the security of United States citizens
outside the country. This is especially true
considering that the programs I proposed limiting
allow immigrants to take advance of taxpayer-
funded educational programs and provide
other special privileges for immigrants
from terrorist countries. It is the height of absurdity
to allow immigrants from countries involved
in terrorist activities against American
citizens special preferences denied to immigrants
from America’s closest allies.
2001 Ron Paul 83:6
I would also hope that we could all agree
that this is far preferable to systems of nationwide
“surveillance,” which could threaten the
liberty of all immigrants and eventually all citizens.
This is an instance where the interests
of liberty and security coincide entirely.
2001 Ron Paul 83:7
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues
to join me in taking these commonsense
steps to protecting the liberty and the
security of the American people from terrorists
by cosponsoring the Securing American Families
Effectively (SAFE) Act.
