Press Release

ALEXANDRIA, VA – October 3, 2001 – Prosecutors sent a powerful message to Congress in support of critical portions of the Administration’s proposed “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001.” Prosecutors support legislation that enhances the ability of law enforcement to combat terrorism by such means as increased electronic surveillance of those who seek to terrorize America and its citizens.

According to Kevin P. Meenan, President of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), “our association has continually urged that law enforcement be capable, with proper authority, to safeguard our citizens through the use of electronic surveillance techniques. We need to counter the threat of criminals that communicate on a worldwide basis in real world time. We also need at least some semblance of parity. International terrorists, and drug dealers alike, have access to the latest in technology and, as they recently and brazenly proved, are not hesitant to exploit their superiority.”

Law enforcement needs multi-jurisdictional warrants, and the ability to freely exchange information between law enforcement organizations and intelligence agencies. It also needs to enhance “trap and trace” authority, expedited access to information in emergency circumstances and expanded subpoena authority for communications records to identify subscribers.

In a letter to Senators Leahy and Hatch, Meenan stated, “for almost a decade prosecutors have been pleading for the laws needed to protect the people in our nation’s communities. . . We will need every advantage to prevent such a heinous tragedy from occurring again, and these portions of the ‘Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001’ will go a long way in helping us keep America safe.”

NDAA, with a membership of approximately 7,000, is the nation’s largest and most influential organization representing prosecutors across America.

Attached is a Resolution recently passed at an emergency meeting of NDAA’s Executive Committee, concerning the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001.