Paul Introduces Sweeping Counter-Terrorism
Legislation The SAFE Act Makes America More
Secure
Washington, DC: Congressman Ron Paul yesterday introduced legislation
designed to enhance the government's ability to prevent future terrorist
attacks. The "Securing American Families Effectively Act," or SAFE Act, makes
urgently needed common sense changes to federal law - changes that make all of
us safer in the war on terrorism. Paul's legislation also carefully protects the
civil liberties of American citizens. "I want terrorists to feel threatened, not
the American people," Paul stated.
The SAFE Act adopts several proposals set forward by President Bush and
Attorney General Ashcroft, while adding novel ideas that give law enforcement
new tools to fight terrorism.
The Act eliminates red tape that prevents various federal law enforcement
agencies from easily sharing information about terrorists. The Act also ends
federal rules that effectively give terrorist suspects "extra-legal" rights. A
key provision of Paul's legislation abolishes the statute of limitations for
terrorist offenses, while enhancing penalties and prison sentences for convicted
terrorists.
The SAFE Act also ends or restricts immigration, including the granting of
student visas, from countries that sponsor or harbor terrorists. "Given current
conditions, we should not be granting visas to people from countries that engage
in acts of terror against the U.S. or refuse to cooperate in our anti-terrorist
efforts," Paul continued. "More than ever, the State department has an
obligation to refuse entrance to people who may be threats to our national
security."
Debate in the House of Representatives over counter-terrorism proposals is
scheduled to begin later this week.