[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3196]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                  FISA

  (Mrs. DRAKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. DRAKE. Madam Speaker, it has now been nearly 3 weeks since the 
Democrat majority allowed the Protect America Act to expire, and we 
have yet to address the resulting gap in our intelligence. That is 18 
days that our intelligence professionals have been denied the 
information that according to the Director of National Intelligence is 
needed to keep our country safe.
  I believe that most Members on the other side of the aisle share my 
concern although, sadly, there are others who do not. So, here we are 
in a political year, working Tuesday through Thursday, and one of the 
most important pieces of legislation is blocked from this floor. Why? 
Because it will pass.
  In 2001, we asked the telecommunications industry to assist our 
intelligence experts in tracking terrorist movements, but now an army 
of trial lawyers are waiting to sue them for their patriotic acts.
  It is time the Democrat leadership moves this bill and gives our 
intelligence community the tools they need to protect America.

                          ____________________