United States Senator Serving the Citizens of Idaho
Larry Craig
http://craig.senate.gov/press/
Dan Whiting (202)224-8078
Sid Smith (208)342-7985
For Immediate Release:
September 25, 2006
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Larry Craig (R-ID), John Sununu (R-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced that they have reached an agreement with the Administration on changes to S. 2453, the National Security Surveillance Act, as reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The agreement provides greater clarification over the breadth of electronic surveillance programs authorized by the legislation and preserves the role of Congress in regulating surveillance activity within the United States. The Senators last week communicated their concerns regarding the existing legislation to the White House and the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA). With the incorporation of the desired changes to the legislation, as outlined below, the Senators will now support the legislation.
"We are united in our support to provide law enforcement and the intelligence community the tools necessary to combat terrorism and to protect our nation. We must do so, however, in a way that protects the rights afforded to citizens in the Constitution," said the Senators in announcing this agreement. "We believe that the changes we have secured will not only uphold these vital individual rights, but will also ensure that Congress retains its authority to regulate and provide oversight throughout the surveillance process."
The changes sought by the Senators and agreed to by the Administration include: