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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2006 |
Contact: Lale Mamaux
Phone: (202)225-3001
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Wexler: Civil Liberties Trampled as GOP Gives President Carte Blanche to Spy on Americans
Lambastes Republican Bill as Nothing More Than a Rubber Stamp for Bush’s Illegal Surveillance Program
(Washington, DC) Later tonight, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) will oppose H.R. 5825, which would update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978. Given the Administration's complete disregard for FISA and existing laws and the need to protect the civil liberties of Americans, Wexler finds it preposterous that Republican would give the Bush Administration carte blanche powers to conduct wanton domestic spying without FISA approved warrants. H.R. 5825 would grant President Bush new powers to conduct NSA's domestic surveillance activities essentially emasculating FISA courts. In a blatant flip flop, the Bush Administration sought these new powers despite its fervent insistence over the past five years that Congressional approval was not necessary in order to conduct what a Federal Court in August determined was unconstitutional spying.
In May, Wexler introduced a resolution of inquiry (H.Res. 819), requesting the President and Attorney General provide detailed information to Congress regarding the extent of the National Security Agency's (NSA) domestic phone record collection program. The House Judiciary Committee passed the resolution of inquiry without opposition on June 21, and then sent it directly to Department of Justice. To date, the Attorney General has not answered any questions related to Wexler's resolution of inquiry, and the scope of the Administration’s warrantless and illegal spy program remains unknown to the American public and Congress.
“Instead of bowing to politically motivated pressure from the Bush Administration to pass legislation that gives the President carte blanche spying powers, Congress must engage in a serious debate on what changes are needed to effectively fight terrorism. I am baffled that Republicans are rubber stamping this legislation, giving President Bush a second bite at the apple and allowing his Administration to once again trample on the civil liberties of innocent American citizens.
“The American people support legal measures to fight terrorism; however, they do not support whitewashing laws put in place to ensure their civil liberties are protected. Given that the Administration has not been forthcoming with the American people and DOJ has failed to provide Congress with requested information concerning the domestic spy program, it is absurd for Republicans to making legislative changes that President Bush claimed originally were not needed,” Wexler said.
Congressman Wexler is a senior member of the House International Relations Committee and is a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
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