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ask.heather@mail.house.gov

In Washington DC
442 Cannon House
Office Building
Washington, DC
20515
202-225-6316 Phone
202-225-4975 Fax
In Albuquerque
20 First Plaza NW
Suite 603
Albuquerque, NM
87102
505-346-6781 Phone
505-346-6723 Fax

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Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico


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Wilson Continues To Fight To Close Intelligence Gaps March 17, 2008
 
House Democrats side with trial lawyers on national security issues

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM) today opposed the Democrats’ latest maneuver to block needed changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the 1978 law that guides our nation’s collection of foreign intelligence. The Protect America Act was passed last summer to address shortfalls and gaps in FISA, but was only a temporary fix and expired nearly a month ago.

“The Democrat Leadership is defying the will of Congress by blocking consideration of Senate-passed reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. That bill passed with a large, bi-partisan majority and has the support of the majority of the House,” Wilson said.

“House Democrats continue to side with trial lawyers instead of the national security interests of this country. Their plan to drag out lawsuits against telecommunications companies potentially compromises how we collect intelligence and leaves these companies facing billion-dollar lawsuits for the lawful assistance they provided to our government.”

Due to changes in telecommunications technology, it became evident last summer that the U.S. was no longer able monitor foreigners in foreign countries who were terrorist targets, without the time-consuming ordeal of obtaining a court order. The Protect America Act restored our ability to listen to terrorists overseas so that we can prevent another terrorist attack.

“The Senate bill will reestablish the procedures we set up in August to listen to foreigners in foreign countries. We are now operating under outdated procedures that are delaying our ability to listen to tips that come in today.”

The bill under consideration today fails to provide legal immunity to the telecommunications companies that assisted our government following the attacks on September 11, 2001. It would force these companies to appear in a secret court to defend themselves for providing information to the government to prevent another terrorist attack.

Wilson is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is also the ranking Member of the Technical and Tactical Intelligence Subcommittee and has been at the forefront of this issue since the determination was made that gaps in the law were leaving Americans vulnerable to a terrorist attack. Wilson believes that reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act passed by the Senate balances the need to protect the civil liberties of U.S. citizens with the need to protect our citizens from attack, and if considered by the House would pass by a large, bipartisan majority.

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