[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5437]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     ON HOUSE APPROVAL OF H.R. 3773

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 8, 2008

   Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the 
House amendment to the Senate-approved version of H.R. 3773. the FISA 
Amendments Act of 2008, but also to voice an area of concern I have 
with the legislation. I want to thank Chairmen Reyes and Conyers and 
for the immense time and effort they both have put into this 
legislation, and also thank Speaker Pelosi for her efforts to negotiate 
with the Senate to work out the differences between the two bills.
   As Congress works to reauthorize and improve our foreign 
intelligence surveillance, it is imperative to remember that the United 
States has enemies abroad who wish to do us harm. In these delicate 
negotiations, we must be sure to protect the civil liberties of the 
American people and keep our Constitution in tact, while at the same 
time giving our intelligence community all the critical tools necessary 
to keep us safe. I believe that with an updated bill approved by the 
House, we can work out our honest differences and come up with a good 
bill that keeps the American people safe and protects our civil rights.
   While the House passed bill is a step in the right direction, I 
believe certain additional provisions should be included in final 
compromise legislation. It is critical that any FISA legislation works 
to encourage compliance with our private sector partners in the 
ultimate goal of keeping America and her people secure. As such, 
targeted immunity for telecom carriers that allegedly participated in 
anti-terrorism surveillance programs may become of vital importance.
   I am confident that as Congress moves forward in negotiating 
sensible and effective FISA legislation, we will continue to work 
toward the right balance that protects the Constitutional rights of all 
Americans, while also authorizing the measures necessary to keep the 
United States safe.

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