Washington, DC - Today U.S. Representative Melvin L. Watt (12th District – NC) voted against renewing the USA Patriot Act, the anti-terrorism law enacted after the 9/11 terrorist attacks that expands the power of law enforcement in investigations of suspected terrorists. 

 

The House approved the conference report on the USA Patriot Act reauthorization bill (H.R. 3199) by a 251-174 vote, making permanent 14 of the 16 provisions that will expire December 31 and extending for four years the remaining two provisions. 

 

Watt said: “I certainly favor protecting our country against attacks from people or groups plotting to do our citizens harm, but we must not require the American people to sacrifice their right of privacy and trample the principles underlying the individual rights of each citizen in the name of fighting terrorism.”

 

Rep. Watt offered two amendments to the Patriot Act reauthorization bill and supported several additional Democratic amendments during House Judiciary Committee consideration of H.R. 3199 in July.  Rep. Watt’s amendments included:

 

an amendment requiring the government to disclose information on library record searches, and an amendment that permits people to respond to search warrants in a district court other than the one where the warrant is issued.
 

Rep. Watt’s amendments were defeated in the Committee by party line votes. The Committee reported the bill favorably to the House, 23-14. 

 

Rep. Watt is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and is Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.