Blog

Lead by Example; Lead From the Front

It’s the beginning of another busy week here in Washington. Several key issues will be up for a vote including a Continuing Resolution for the current Fiscal Year 2011 as well as an extension on certain provisions in the PATRIOT Act.

PATRIOT ACT

On September 11, 2001, thousands of Americans lost their lives in what remains the largest attack on U.S. soil since Pearl Harbor. Nearly 10 years later, our enemies continue crafting complex schemes in hopes of harming our country and its people. These key provisions inside the PATRIOT Act provide specialized protection, supplying with law enforcement the necessary tools in the fight against would be terrorists.

This particular law, though controversial, has no doubt saved countless lives. Nearly 10 years after its passage, our country has yet to see another major attack. The safety of the American people is and should always be our number one priority which is why, on Monday, I will vote to TEMPORARILY extend the below provisions into the beginning of December. In the meantime, Congress will hold hearings and determine how to narrowly tailor the law in an effort to further ensure the privacy of all Americans.

This extension not only ensures our country’s protection going forward but it supplies Congress with enough time to carefully discuss all of our options in an effort to reform a service I believe our country needs.

The three expiring provisions are as follows (note that the tools made available to intelligence officers in these provisions in the PATRIOT Act have been available in criminal investigations for decades):

• Roving Wiretap – Voting to extend the “roving wiretap” provision of the PATRIOT Act ensures the government has the resources it needs to stay a step ahead of those who wish to bring harm upon our country and the American people. The argument that this gives the federal government unfettered authority to listen to everyday conversations is flat wrong. In fact, this provision is limited to suspected terrorists and requires the government to provide proper justification and evidence that the suspect is attempting to evade detection.
• Lone-Wolf – The “lone-wolf” provision is an important tool; it gives law enforcement the flexibility it needs to identify and track a non-US citizen suspected of planning a terrorist attack.
• Business Records – For too long, national security agents had to jump through a number of hoops to obtain the very same evidence local law enforcement agents could get. By voting to extend the “business record” provision, we are ensuring all law enforcement agents have access to important pieces of information without infringing on the rights and privacies of the American people.

Unexpected tour guide

Drug Free Coalition Visits Congressman Womack

On Tuesday, February 8, students and mentors of a drug free coalition in the Third District stopped by the U.S. Capitol, while on their trip to DC. All they wanted was to take a few pictures with me but I had the privilege to give them a bit of an unexpected tour of the Capitol. The above link will take you to the video.

Continuing Resolution (C.R.)

On Thursday, the House Appropriations Committee announced intent to cut $100 billion in spending in the upcoming Continuing Resolution. These cuts are just the beginning. More cuts will continue on every level and some will be difficult, even painful to some degree, but I assure you it’s nothing more than growing pains. My dad once told me, “success is a cinch by the inch and hard by the yard”. Line by line, program by program; that’s the perspective we have to have when dealing with our current financial situation. We will get this great country back on track and we will do it by getting our financial house in order first.

Job creation is our number one priority. An integral part of our job-creation agenda is reducing government spending. For the past few years, Washington has been spending at an alarming rate without any form of consideration regarding the fiscal consequences. While the rest of the nation has had to tighten their financial belts, the government has loosened theirs. If America’s people must live within their means, shouldn’t its leaders do the same? The answer is yes. The Pledge to America promised that we would “roll back government spending to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels, saving us at least $100 billion in the first year alone.” That promise will be met.

EGYPT

Like all of you, I watched with great interest the demonstrations in Egypt that led to the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak. As you know, I have a unique perspective on the situation since my deployment to the Sinai in 2002. I am excited for the Egyptian people—the chance to enjoy true liberty—and remain cautiously optimistic that the transitional government will ensure against a radical, jihadist takeover movement. The security of Israel and years of hard work to strengthen Arab-Israeli relationships remains a top priority of mine.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and we’ll talk again next week.

Congressman Steve Womack