Coalition ad campaign helps advance Patriot Act

Four Republican Senators today ended their support of a filibuster that has prevented timely completion of congressional action on the renewal of 16 provisions of the Patriot Act. The four – Senators John Sununu of New Hampshire, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Larry Craig of Idaho and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – reached a deal with the White House to support the Act less than a week after the Coalition for Security, Liberty and the Law began airing a television ad in their states, warning against efforts to weaken this vital counterterrorism legislation.

The Coalition’s 60-second spot – broadcast during news and entertainment programming such as the popular Fox show "24" – featured Debra Burlingame, sister of Capt. Charles "Chic" Burlingame, the American Airlines pilot of flight 77 which was hijacked and then crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. In it, Ms. Burlingame warned:

A minority of Senators believe that we can safely weaken the Patriot Act. What if they’re wrong? What are they going to tell their constituents if keeping the Patriot Act strong would have prevented that attack?

It appears that the terms agreed upon by the White House and the Senators represent relatively minor adjustments to the conference report and will allow the Patriot Act to continue to be wielded effectively by law enforcement and intelligence professionals charged with protecting this country. The Coalition for Security, Liberty & the Law applauds this compromise and hopes that it clears the way for their colleagues promptly to adopt this legislation.

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., President of the Center for Security Policy which sponsors the Coalition for Security Liberty and the Law, said today:

The American people intuitively recognize the necessity of providing our government the tools with which to "connect the dots" and prevent terrorist actions before they happen, rather than prosecute those responsible after the fact. The Patriot Act has successfully provided such tools for the past four-and-a-half years. It is needed today more than ever.

The Coalition commends Senators Sununu, Craig, Hagel and Murkowski for recognizing the imperative of preserving the Patriot Act’s "sunsetted" provisions – and for responding to its urging that they not risk Americans’ safety by enabling a minority of Senators to filibuster this act. We intend, if necessary, to make a similar case to the constituents of other legislators who remain willing to take such intolerable risks.

The Coalition also released on January 25th a powerful open letter to the Congress signed by 69 leaders in the fields of national security, law enforcement, public policy and academia.