Ranking Member Smith: Following the terror attacks of 9/11, the mission of the Bureau changed dramatically from that of simply a traditional law enforcement agency to an agency tasked with investigating terrorism and national security threats.
The Bureau has undertaken significant efforts to conform to its new mission, to revise its investigative techniques, retrain its agents, and more effectively analyze and respond to intelligence.
America is safer today because the men and women of the Bureau and other agencies work tirelessly to protect us.
At the end of this year, the remaining temporary provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act are set to expire. These provisions, which include roving wiretap and FISA business records authority, are essential to the Bureau’s ability to prevent acts of terrorism and respond to other threats to our national security.
To ensure there is no lapse in these vital authorities, I have introduced legislation to extend the expiring provisions for ten years. The threat to America from terrorists, spies and enemy nations will not sunset at the end of this year and neither should America’s anti-terrorism laws.
Despite the Bureau’s efforts to keep America safe from terrorists, I’m concerned that the new Administration’s decision to close Guantanamo Bay may result in some of the most dangerous terrorists being transferred to the U.S. or released into American communities.
To me, bringing terrorists to the U.S. undermines the Bureau’s efforts to prevent another terrorist attack.
No good purpose is served by allowing known terrorists, who trained at terrorist training camps, to come to the U.S. to live among us. Guantanamo Bay was never meant to be another Ellis Island. Terrorists were detained there for a reason--to keep Americans safe!
I understand that the Bureau is part of the Gitmo detainee review process established by President Obama. I hope that the Bureau will express its concerns to the Administration about the threat these terrorists pose to Americans here at home.
While the Bureau pursues its national security efforts, I know it will continue its law enforcement mission, including the investigation of widespread fraud associated with America’s financial crisis.
Many factors contributed to this collapse, including predatory lending by corrupt lenders, mortgage fraud, and even foreclosure fraud.
Another important focus of the Bureau is preventing crimes against children, particularly Internet-based crimes involving child pornography or child exploitation. Often, the only mechanism for identifying an operator or user of a child pornography website is their Internet Protocol address.
Currently, a law enforcement officer can request subscriber information from an Internet Service Provider (ISP). However, ISPs regularly purge these records, making it difficult if not impossible for law enforcement officials to apprehend the distributors and consumers of child pornography on the Internet.
I have sponsored legislation, the Internet SAFETY Act, to require ISPs to retain these records for up to two years. I am interested in hearing Director Mueller’s thoughts on the need for record retention to investigate child pornography and other Internet-based crimes.
Again, I thank Director Mueller for joining us today and I look forward to hearing from him. I yield back the balance of my time.
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