[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 57 (Thursday, April 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ADDRESSING SURVEILLANCE LEGISLATION IN AMERICA

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                           HON. LINCOLN DAVIS

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 2008

  Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
address the issue of surveillance in our country, and the efforts of 
this Congress to reform our laws in a way that protects both our 
national security and our individual freedoms.
  Over the past several months, competing legislation from the House 
and Senate has repeatedly come to a vote in an effort to reform 
existing FISA laws. I have great respect for the men and women working 
to see this come to light, but am dismayed at the unwillingness of some 
on both sides of the aisle to seek consensus on this important issue.
  For me and my constituents, the issue is clear: that a terrorist 
threat exists, and we cannot deny our intelligence community a 
necessary tool in the fight against this global threat. To see this 
done, we must work quickly to reach an agreement within the House and 
Senate that can become law. The Senate has already passed such a bill, 
and I again urge my colleagues in the House to consider that 
legislation.
  I would like to add that these negotiations reached some of their 
most heated moments just as the Congress's district work period was 
upon us. Away from Washington's heated political rhetoric, I spent two 
weeks with my constituents as I traveled the 10,000 square miles in my 
district holding town hall meetings. It is revealing to me that folks 
back home wanted to talk with me about health care and energy costs, 
but on rare occasion did anyone come forward to discuss FISA. I can 
only take away from this that they expect us to pass a bill that 
protects their safety and their civil liberties with expediency so we 
can return to the business of addressing their most immediate concerns.
  There are those who have said that an agreement is on the horizon, 
and I commend our leadership in their efforts to make this happen. I 
look forward to casting my vote for legislation that provides the 
intelligence community with an effective means to conduct surveillance 
on the enemies of this nation. Moreover, in this time of uncertainty at 
home and unrest overseas, we cannot confuse our friends with our 
enemies by failing to protect those who aided the government in seeking 
out terrorist threats after September 11th. The final version of this 
bill must contain legal protection for the industries that faithfully 
answered their country's call for help in a time of need.
  I have great hope that common sense, and the needs of our safety and 
security will prevail in this effort, and I look forward to seeing us 
pass a bill in the near future.

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