    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 6 (Monday, February 18, 2008)]
    [Pages 196-198]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks on Intelligence Reform Legislation and an Exchange With
    Reporters

    February 14, 2008

        The President. Good afternoon. This Saturday at midnight,
    legislation authorizing intelligence professionals to quickly and
    effectively monitor terrorist communications will expire. If Congress
    does not act by that time, our ability to find out who the terrorists
    are talking to, what they are saying, and what they are planning will be
    compromised. It would be a mistake if the Congress were to allow this to
    happen.
        Members of Congress knew all along that this deadline was
    approaching. They said it themselves. They've had more than 6 months to
    discuss and deliberate, and now they must act and pass legislation that
    will ensure our intelligence professionals have the tools they need to
    keep us safe.
        Earlier this week, the Senate did act and passed a strong bill and
    did so with a bipartisan majority. The Senate bill will ensure that we
    can effectively monitor those seeking to harm our people. The Senate
    bill will provide fair and just liability protection for companies that
    assisted in the efforts to protect America after the attacks of
    September the 11th. Without this protection, without this liability
    shield, we may not be able to secure the private sector's cooperation
    with our intelligence efforts. And that, of course, would put the
    American people at risk.
        Now it's the House's turn to act. It is clear that the Senate bill
    would pass the House with bipartisan support. Republicans and Democrats
    in the Senate can put partisanship aside and pass a good bill. There's
    no reason why the House cannot do the same and pass the Senate bill
    immediately.
        Our Government has no greater responsibility than getting this work
    done, and there really is no excuse for letting this critical
    legislation expire. I urge congressional leaders to let the will of the
    House and the American people prevail and vote on the Senate bill before
    adjourning for their recess. Failure to act would harm our ability to
    monitor new terrorist activities and could reopen dangerous gaps in our
    intelligence. Failure to act would also make the private sector less
    willing to help us protect the country, and this is unacceptable. The
    House should not leave Washington without passing the Senate bill.
        Now, I am scheduled to leave tomorrow for a long-planned trip to
    five African nations. Moments ago, my staff informed the House
    leadership that I'm prepared to delay my departure and stay in
    Washington with them if it will help them complete their work on this
    critical bill.
        The lives of countless Americans depend on our ability to monitor
    terrorist communications. Our intelligence professionals are working day
    and night to keep us safe, and they're waiting to see whether Congress
    will give them the tools they need to succeed or tie their hands by
    failing to act. The American people are watching this debate as well.
    They expect Congress to meet its responsibilities before they leave town
    on a recess.
        I'll answer a few questions. Ben [Ben Feller, Associated Press], if
    you've got a question, I'll be prepared to answer.

    President's Upcoming Visit to Africa/Intelligence Reform Legislation

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. It appears with that deadline
    approaching that the House and the White House might be seen as being
    engaged in a game of chicken here, playing politics with an important
    intelligence law. If the law expires and something happens, wouldn't you
    be at least partly to

    [[Page 197]]

    blame? And on your Africa trip, if you have to delay, do you think that
    you would be shortening your trip at all?
        The President. As to the latter, the delay depends on whether the
    House acts, of course, and they got plenty of time to get this done. But
    if we have to delay, we'll delay. But I'm going to go to the countries
    that I said I'd go to.
        And to the first case, whether or not this is politics, I certainly
    hope not. I can assure you, Al Qaida in their planning isn't thinking
    about politics. They're thinking about hurting the American people
    again.
        Who's to blame? Look, these folks in Congress passed a good bill
    last--late last summer. In other words, they analyzed the situation;
    they said there's a threat; and they agreed to give our professionals
    the tools they needed to do the job. The problem is, they let the bill
    expire.
        My attitude is, if the bill was good enough then, why not pass the
    bill again? I mean, the threat hasn't gone away. Secondly, they've had
    plenty of time to think about how to address the issue. Thirdly, the
    Senate led the way; the Senate showed how to pass a good bill with a
    bipartisan majority. And the truth of the matter is, if there was a
    willingness to get this problem solved, all the leadership would have to
    do is submit the Senate bill for a vote.
        So we'll see what happens. My attitude is, now is the time to get
    the job done. There's been plenty of time to think about it, plenty of
    time to debate it, and there's a good way forward. And hopefully the
    House leadership will put this bill for a vote and let the Members vote
    as they so desire.
        Mike [Mike Emmanuel, FOX News].

    Terrorist Intelligence Surveillance Program/War on Terror

        Q. Mr. President, I realize this is a sensitive matter, but I'm
    wondering if there's a way you can spell out for the American public
    what the practical impact may be, if this law expires, on our
    intelligence professionals, say, next week.
        The President. Well, I hope it doesn't. But clearly, there will be a
    gap. And of course, we won't be able to assess that gap until the time.
    Step one is, I guess you got to come to the conclusion that there's a
    threat to America or not a threat. I mean, evidently, some people just
    don't feel that sense of urgency. I do. And the reason I do is I firmly
    believe that there's still people out there who would do us harm.
        Secondly, I know that the tools that I've just described are
    necessary to protect us. Why? Because we need to know what people are
    saying, what they're planning, and what they're thinking. And the tool
    that I have just described has been very effective.
        Thirdly, people are wondering why companies need liability
    protection. Well, if you cooperate with the Government and then get sued
    for billions of dollars because of the cooperation, you're less likely
    to cooperate. And obviously we're going to need people working with us
    to find out what the enemy is saying and thinking and plotting and
    planning.
        And so it's a--to me, it's a--I guess one way to look at it is, some
    may not feel that same sense of urgency I do. I heard somebody say,
    ``Well, this is just pure politics.'' No, this is what is necessary to
    protect the American people from harm. And I recognize there hasn't been
    an attack on our country, but that does not mean that there's not still
    an enemy that lurks, plans, and plots.
        And one of the reasons we've been effective is because we put new
    tools in place that give our professionals that which is necessary to
    protect us. This is a different kind of threat than we've ever faced
    before. It's a different kind of war that we're fighting, and it
    requires a different approach.
        Again, I'll repeat to you that the Congress took a look at this
    issue and decided that the tools were necessary to give to our
    professionals last--late last summer. And if it was necessary late last
    summer, why is it not necessary today? What has changed? Well, the
    threat hasn't gone away. It's still there; it's still real; and we
    better be worried about it as a nation. And the House has now got time
    to go out and get the deal done.
        Yesterday--a couple of days--votes ago in the Senate made it
    abundantly clear that Republicans and Democrats can come together and
    put a good piece of legislation together and get it passed. And the
    House leadership has an opportunity to do that now.

    [[Page 198]]

        Listen, thank you all very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 1 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to H.R. 3773.