[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 49 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      FISA AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2008

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                               speech of

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 14, 2008

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this latest attempt to 
undermine our personal liberties and violate the Fourth Amendment of 
the Constitution. This bill will allow the federal government to engage 
in the bulk collection of American citizens' communications. In effect, 
it means that any American may have his electronic communications 
monitored without a search warrant.
  As such, the bill clearly violates the Fourth Amendment, which 
states:
  ``The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, 
papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall 
not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, 
supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place 
to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.''
  The assurances in this bill that Americans will not have their 
communications monitored without warrant are unconvincing. The bill 
merely states that the government should do its best to avoid 
monitoring Americans if possible. We have seen how meaningless such 
qualified prohibitions have been as we recount the abuses over the past 
several years.
  Just today, we read in the news that the federal government has 
massively abused its ability to monitor us by improperly targeting 
Americans through the use of ``national security letters.'' Apparently 
some 60 percent of the more than 50,000 national security letters 
targeted Americans, rather than foreign terrorists, for surveillance.
  This is what happens when we begin down the slippery slope of giving 
up our constitutional rights for the promise of more security. When we 
come to accept that the government can spy on us without a court order 
we have come to accept tyranny.
  I urge my colleagues to reject this and all legislation that allows 
Americans to be spied on without a properly issued warrant.

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