For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 26, 2001
President Signs Anti-Terrorism Bill
Remarks by the President at Signing of the Patriot Act, Anti-Terrorism Legislation
The East Room
9:49 A.M. EDT
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.
It is now my honor to sign into law the USA Patriot Act of 2001.
(Applause.)