[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 13, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     REJECT ANOTHER SHORT-TERM EXTENSION TO THE PROTECT AMERICA ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Price) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I hadn't planned on coming down 
here tonight, but this is a sad and distressing day for this House of 
Representatives.
  Mr. Speaker, I suspect you know, some may not, but there are 
companies in America that are patriotic and they want to help our 
Nation fight against those who would do us harm. But amazingly, Mr. 
Speaker, they feel that they can't. And why? They believe that if they 
do, they will be sued. That is right, Mr. Speaker. Companies in America 
believe, and have been given counsel by their attorneys, that if they 
help the United States Government assist in making our Nation safer, 
they will be sued. The threat of trial lawyers are preventing our 
Nation from protecting itself.
  Outrageous you say? So do I. So do I.
  If Congress doesn't act this week, this week, critical tools that 
allow our intelligence officers to monitor terrorist communications 
overseas will expire. Yesterday, the Senate approved a bipartisan bill, 
a bipartisan bill by a vote of 68-29, to close the terrorist loophole 
in our intelligence law. The Senate bill represents a remarkable 
compromise between Congress and the administration.
  It rightly restores the original intent of the Foreign Intelligence 
Surveillance Act, FISA, by ensuring that intelligence officials can 
conduct surveillance on foreign targets without a court order while 
still protecting the civil liberties of the American people.
  It also grants liability protection to telecommunication companies 
that helped our government after September 11. Allowing these companies 
to be subject to frivolous lawsuits threatens their cooperation in the 
future and would cripple America's counterterrorism efforts. This, 
unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, appears to be what the House Democrat 
majority desires.
  Every American will become exposed to greater threats. Every 
American: moms, dads, sons, daughters. Every single American is exposed 
to greater threats because this majority refuses to consider a long-
term solution to the problems facing our intelligence community.
  I haven't read, Mr. Speaker, that terrorists have placed an 
expiration date on their plots to destroy our way of life. Congress 
shouldn't put an expiration date on our intelligence community's 
ability to protect our Nation.
  This bill expires this week. We must act. Mr. Speaker, elections have 
consequences, and it appears that the Democrat left majority now in 
charge is beholden to trial lawyers. I just didn't think that they 
would put those trial lawyers ahead of national security.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a sad day. I can only hope that the American 
people are paying attention.

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