Langevin Statement on Domestic Surveillance
Langevin Statement on Domestic Surveillance
(Warwick, R.I.) Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) today released the following statement on the domestic surveillance of U.S. citizens:
"Like many Americans, I am deeply disturbed by reports of the President's decision to expand domestic surveillance of U.S. citizens beyond existing law. As a member of the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, I am fully aware of the dangers posed by those who wish to harm Americans, and I have strongly supported efforts to make our nation safer. However, President Bush has yet to provide any legitimate reason to explain why he did not use the emergency powers available under current law and instead chose to expand the authority of the National Security Agency.
"The President's claim that existing law cannot meet the needs of the war on terrorism is not a sufficient justification; the Foreign Intelligence Service Act already permits the surveillance of communications by U.S. citizens under certain limited circumstances. Furthermore, if President Bush believes that FISA needs to be altered, he should make his case to Congress and propose legislative changes.
"For the last several months, Congress has debated how and for how long the USA PATRIOT Act should be reauthorized, as several of its provisions expire at the end of this year. While Americans may disagree on the merits of extending the legislation, we concur that such important decisions should be made publicly, as they affect the very values of freedom and liberty on which the nation was founded. The President's decision to expand domestic surveillance while notifying only a handful of legislators does not constitute Congressional consent and is a danger to our established Constitutional system of checks and balances.
"I believe that Congress has a responsibility to the American people to exercise its oversight authority and that we should conduct hearings as soon as possible to investigate the Administration's decision to expand the NSA's surveillance activities."
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ri02_langevin/prsurveill122105.html