Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

Colloquy on banning proposed TIPS program with Majority Leader Armey during debate on Homeland Security Act

September 24, 2002

During debate on the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Congresswoman Pelosi engaged in a colloquy with Majority Leader Dick Armey to ensure that the intent of the House of Representatives to prohibit the Department of Justice's proposed TIPS program was clear. The following is the text of their exchange:

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I sought that time in order to engage the majority leader in colloquy about section 770 of H.R. 5005.

Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Chairman, if the gentlewoman will yield, I would be happy to engage in colloquy with the gentlewoman from California.

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey).
This section would prohibit the Government from putting in place the Bush administration's TIPS program, the Terrorist Information and Prevention System. Is it the majority leader's intent that section 770 ban both the program called "TIPS" and any other successor program that might be considered that would have the same or similar characteristics as TIPS? In other words, would section 770 bar the Government both from putting in place the same program under a different name or a program under a different name with similar characteristics to the proposed TIPS program?

Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. PELOSI. I yield to the leader.

Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Yes. Section 770 is intended not only to prohibit the TIPS program, but also any and all activities to implement the proposed plan. This means that section 770 prohibits the TIPS program no matter what name it is given and any program with the same or similar characteristics. This is not to say that the Government would be barred from receiving information about potential terrorism from any member of the public. Of course, it could and it does under current law.

Rather, what is prohibited is the creation of a Government program that would have the effect or purpose of encouraging workers and others who have access to our homes and our neighborhoods to report to the Government information that they think is suspicious. This work is best left to State and local law enforcement officials. There are much better ways to involve our communities in securing our homeland. After all, we are here today to defend our freedoms.

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the majority leader.