May 27, 2015
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Majority Leader McConnell:
The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association is
the largest non-partisan, non-profit law enforcement association representing
over 26,000 federal law enforcement officers from the 65 federal agencies. Our members serve on the front lines
protecting our nation from terrorist and criminal threats. Every day, these officers use the Patriot Act
to keep Americans safe, and they do so under the microscope of strict
congressional, agency and judicial oversight.
The USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act
of 2005 ("Patriot Act”) and related authorities under the Intelligence Reform
and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 give the law enforcement and intelligence
communities 21st Century tools to combat 21st Century crimes. In today's world, terrorist and criminals use
the internet, cellular and satellite phones, phishing schemes, social
networking and wire transfers to organize, surveil, establish and execute their
crimes. Prior to the enactment of these
Acts, law enforcement found itself playing catch up to criminal schemes. Today, as evidenced by many thwarted
terrorist schemes and criminal enterprises, intelligence experts can stay ahead
of those who are constantly challenging the technological scope of law
enforcement.
While the Senate considers whether it will continue
providing the American people with the security that they deserve, we implore
you to preserve and continue the Patriot Act with special emphasis on several
provisions that are vital to the integrity and value of information gathered
for law enforcement and national security.First, to combat the sophisticated techniques used by terrorists and
criminals to evade detection, we urge that the government needs a level playing
field by continuing authorities related to the pursuit of 21stCentury crimes as provided through the Foreign Intelligence Service Act (FISA)
courts.
FISA and the capability to conduct authorized roving
electronic surveillance of non-U.S. persons who engage in international
terrorism, and access to electronic information obtained under a subpoena, a
search warrant and other court orders.These authorities, currently authorized under law but expiring on June
1, 2015, receive intense individualized judicial review and therefore reflect
no indications of abuse or misuse by government officials. On the contrary, among the many success
stories are more than 30 arrests during the past year alone of individuals who
sought a variety of "lone wolf” terrorism plots against the people of the
United States.
Second, we believe some in Congress do not remember
or do not appreciate why the Patriot Act and related laws passed with wide
bipartisan support during the last decade.These laws were the appropriate response to grave and growing threats
against the United States. These carefully
crafted laws balance the need for informed intelligence with the need for privacy
and civil rights guarantees. With the
expansion of technology and access to the internet, the threats of a decade ago
have increased in frequency, variety and intensity. We simply cannot afford to turn off these
critical authorities and tools for any length of time, as even the smallest
disruptions open a large window of opportunity for those wishing to do us harm.
FLEOA wishes to remind the Congress of the many
layers of privacy and civil rights protections instilled into the current
law. In addition to heavy congressional
and judicial oversight, we cite Section 1001 of the Patriot Act, which enables
the Inspector General to investigate any allegations of misuse by government
employees regarding these authorities, and it requires regular reporting to the
Congress of its actions under this provision.
FLEOA seeks a full and permanent reauthorization of
the Patriot Act and related laws that continue to provide for the security of
the people of the United States, with emphasis on these important law
enforcement and national security tools.Technologically advanced criminals and terrorists do not "sunset” or
must they wait for "extensions” to continue their activities. As the officers and agents who are largely
responsible for the day-to-day protection of our nation, we request the
uninterrupted continuation of the laws and authorities that give us the lawful
tools that have and will keep our nation safe.
Sincerely,
Jon Adler
FLEOA National President