    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 6 (Monday, February 18, 2008)]
    [Pages 184-185]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on Senate Passage of the Intelligence Reform Legislation

    February 12, 2008

        After a full debate, the Senate today cast a strong, bipartisan vote
    in support of legislation that will ensure that our intelligence
    professionals continue to have the critical tools they need to protect
    the Nation.
        This good bill passed by the Senate provides a long-term foundation
    for our intelligence community to monitor the communications of foreign
    terrorists in ways that are timely and effective and that also protect
    the liberties of Americans. It will keep closed dangerous intelligence
    gaps that threatened our security. And this bill improves on the Protect
    America Act passed last summer by providing fair and just liability
    protection to those private companies who have been sued for billions of
    dollars only because they are believed to have done the right thing and
    assisted the Nation after the September 11th terrorist attacks.
        I commend Senators from both sides of the aisle who came together to
    pass this important bill. I thank Leaders Reid and McConnell and the
    leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senators Rockefeller and
    Bond, for finishing work on this bill. Today the Senate demonstrated
    that protecting our Nation is not a partisan issue.
        The House of Representatives now has an opportunity to put aside
    narrow partisan concerns and come together to pass this bipartisan bill
    and send it to my desk without delay. Our intelligence professionals and
    private sector partners need the certainty of long-term legislation that
    will allow us to keep programs in place to protect the Nation, so that
    the flow of critical intelligence information is not interrupted.

    Note: The statement referred to H.R. 3773.

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