House Passes Legislation to Monitor Terrorist Communications

September 29, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted last night to modernize and streamline the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) so that intelligence agencies can track and catch terrorists before they strike. The Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act, H.R. 5825, was approved with bipartisan support, 232-191.

"It’s imperative that we have the tools to find out where the terrorists are, what they are plotting, and whom they are talking to. We need to take on this 21st century threat with 21st century methods," said Dreier. "This bill allows our intelligence agencies to collect and connect the dots to prevent attacks by monitoring communications between terrorists overseas and their contacts here. It also takes great care to protect our constitutional rights and civil liberties without jeopardizing efforts to save American lives."

In the 26 years since FISA was enacted in 1978, it has not been updated to take into account the advances in and widespread use of technology. The Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act updates FISA for the Internet/cell phone era and makes it technology-neutral to prevent the need for future revisions. H.R. 5825 also removes excessive bureaucracy and streamlines the process of applying for a FISA warrant. The Act establishes specific rules to govern foreign intelligence surveillance in the wake of an attack on the United States to allow the government to respond swiftly to terrorist threats. It also outlines specific rules in the event of an imminent threat against the United States. Finally, the Act increases congressional oversight to ensure that Americans’ civil liberties are protected.

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