Washington, DC, October 12, 2001 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed Congressional approval of anti-terrorism legislation and called for additional federal and state action to confront the ongoing terrorist threat.

"In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, there is a clear need for our nation's law enforcement and intelligence agencies to have additional tools to confront this real and present danger," said Glen A. Tobias, ADL National Chairman, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "This legislation is an important step forward in strengthening our ability to identify, locate, track and prosecute terrorists and their supporters here and abroad. With appropriate oversight, our nation's security agencies should be given the latitude necessary to prevent terrorist activity."

The legislation approved by Congress contains several important provisions:

• An expanded definition of terrorism to prevent access to the country and restrict fundraising for representatives of terrorist organizations;
• Updated and modernized electronic surveillance authority to facilitate tracking terrorist suspects;
• Increased state and federal law enforcement authority to investigate domestic terrorist groups that knowingly support foreign terrorist entities;
• Elimination of the statute of limitations for prosecuting terrorists;
• Improved control of our borders, with additional support for the Border Patrol and Customs officials.

"Our rights and liberties should not be compromised in the vital effort to prevent terrorist activity here and abroad," said Mr. Tobias and Mr. Foxman. "We commend President Bush and Attorney General Ashcroft, as well as Senate Judiciary Committee leaders Patrick Leahy and Orrin Hatch and House Judiciary Committee leaders James Sensenbrenner and John Conyers for their efforts in crafting this constructive and balanced legislation.

"Congress does have unfinished business. In the month since the terrorist attacks, we have seen some people irrationally target their fellow Americans and others who appear to be of Muslim, Middle Eastern and South Asian descent for violence. As Congress moves forward with legislation designed to update and modernize our counterterrorism laws, we must do the same for our nation's federal hate crime laws. Federal and state law enforcement officials should have 21st century tools to prevent hate violence and to investigate and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law all those who commit hate crimes."

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.