[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 104 (Monday, June 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1316]
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. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 20, 2008

  Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 6304, the 
``FISA Amendments Act of 2008.''
  I first want to thank Majority Leader Hoyer and other Members who 
worked very hard to arrive at a compromise with the Senate. I think 
this bill is an improvement over S. 1927, the ``Protect America Act,'' 
and the Senate bill we considered earlier this year. For example. H.R. 
6304 makes it crystal clear that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance 
Act, FISA, is the exclusive means under which surveillance is conducted 
and states that any exceptions in the future must be specifically 
authorized.
  However, I cannot support H.R. 6304 because of the issues of reverse 
targeting and retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies. 
The strong protections against reverse targeting contained in prior 
House measures, which I supported, are absent from this bill. Reverse 
targeting, which refers to spying on Americans by targeting those 
abroad with whom they are believed to be communicating, opens a 
loophole for the Federal Government to violate the privacy of American 
citizens.
  Most significantly, the retroactive immunity provisions will block 
the American public's ability to hold the telecommunications companies 
accountable for participating in the Federal Government's domestic 
warrantless surveillance program. Courts will have no real power to 
review the administration's prior orders for surveillance activities. 
We may never learn the extent of the violations of Americans' privacy 
which may have occurred or companies which may have participated.
  I ask my colleagues to stand up for our values and vote no on this 
flawed bill.

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