[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 769-770]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                  FISA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, we may only be a few days into the 
session, but it is not too early to note a

[[Page 770]]

change in tone from last January. Talks are moving forward on an 
economic growth package between the Secretary of the Treasury, the 
House Republican leader, and the Speaker, and there is good reason to 
expect an important national security achievement on FISA at the latest 
by next week.
  I had hoped we would move to FISA first, since nothing could be more 
urgent than protecting this vital national security tool before its 
expiration on February 1. Our first duty is to protect Americans from 
harm, and we know for a fact this law has helped us--helped us--detect 
and disrupt terrorist plots. It would be grossly irresponsible for 
Congress to weaken it or to let it lapse. And the notion that some in 
Congress would even consider filibustering this vital antiterror tool 
is difficult to comprehend.
  Fortunately, common sense seems to have prevailed. I was encouraged 
to see that my good friend, the majority leader, believes we can pass a 
FISA bill with sufficient time to get it signed before it expires. I am 
very pleased to see that the chairman of the Intelligence Committee 
believes the bipartisan version reported out of his committee last fall 
will be the one that will ultimately pass, hopefully, by February 1. 
This is good news not only because the Intelligence Committee's version 
is the best, but, most importantly, with some modification it is also 
the only one the President will sign.
  We have put this off long enough. Let's work to pass this bill. I 
know the majority leader believes we should move forward on it as well. 
I certainly concur in his judgment on that matter.

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