Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold Reacting to Attorney General Gonzales' Announcement That He Supports Changes to Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act April 5, 2005 It is very significant that after three and a half years of the Administration adamantly opposing any changes to the PATRIOT Act, and in some cases ignoring its critics, the Attorney General of the United States has now announced that he too recognizes that our concerns are not so far-fetched. We have come a long way since the day that I was the only senator to vote against the PATRIOT Act. I wish this announcement had come sooner but I look forward to reviewing the proposal in detail. Although I may not agree in the end that the Attorney General's proposed modifications are adequate to address the concerns of the American people, I welcome this sea change in the Administration's attitude. Having now taken this step, I hope we can have the productive and honest dialogue on the controversial provisions of the PATRIOT Act that has been missing for so long. The SAFE Act addresses these provisions and I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Administration.

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