New York, NY, July 22, 2005 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called legislation approved yesterday in the House to reauthorize sections of the USA PATRIOT Act, "a measured response to the legitimate threat of terrorism" and urged Congress to continue to build additional safeguards and reporting requirements into the legislation as it moves to the Senate.  The League discussed the reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act in a meeting last month with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

"ADL supported enactment of the USA PATRIOT Act in October 2001 because we firmly believed that law enforcement and intelligence officials needed additional tools to identify, track, and prosecute terrorists and their supporters, and to prevent future attacks.  The reauthorization legislation is a measured response to the legitimate threat of terrorism," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "The House has wisely limited its action to making permanent a number of the provisions scheduled to expire in December, while adding several useful additional safeguards against abuse.

"We especially welcome a new provision requiring the Justice Department to review the conditions of certain detainees currently being held without criminal charges against them," added Mr. Foxman.  "We are pleased that the House chose not to significantly expand existing law enforcement powers in this legislation."

ADL stressed the importance of the original sunset provisions for certain provisions of the act.  Now that the House has removed most of those provisions, ADL will press for continuing, robust Congressional oversight, for accountability and transparency in implementing the powers granted under the Act, for appropriate administrative reporting requirements and for opportunities for meaningful judicial review of these provisions.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.