[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7908]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            USA FREEDOM ACT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, last night the Senate voted to advance 
the House-passed FISA bill. We will have a vote on that legislation as 
soon as we can. On our way there, we should take some commonsense steps 
to ensure the new system envisioned by that legislation--a system we 
would soon have to rely upon to keep our country safe--will, in fact, 
actually work. The amendments filed last night would help do just that.
  For example, one amendment would ensure that there is adequate time 
to build and test a system that doesn't yet exist. One amendment would 
ensure that there is adequate time to build and test a system that 
doesn't even exist yet. Another would require that once the new system 
is actually built, the Director of National Intelligence reviews it and 
certifies that it actually works. I will say that again. The second 
amendment would require that once the new system is actually built, the 
Director of National Intelligence reviews the new system and certifies 
that it will actually work. Amendment No. 3 would require simple 
notification if the providers decide to change their data-retention 
policies. It will just require them to notify us if the providers 
decide to change their data-retention policies. Three amendments to 
improve the bill.
  These fixes are common sense, and whatever one thinks of the proposed 
new system, there needs to be basic assurance that it will function as 
its proponents say it will. The Senate should adopt these basic 
safeguards.
  I had hoped to see committees working hard to advance bipartisan, 
compromise FISA legislation this week, which is why I had offered 
several temporary extensions of the existing program to allow the space 
for that to occur. But these proposed short-term extensions were either 
voted down or objected to, including a very narrow extension of some of 
the least controversial tools contained within the program that we are 
considering.
  So this is where we are. It now falls on all of us to work diligently 
and responsibly to get the American people the best outcome that can be 
reasonably expected in this reality with which we are confronted. That 
is my commitment, and I know many of my colleagues share it as well.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BURR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gardner). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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