Reject Another Short-Term Extension to the Protect America Act

Floor Speech

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Price) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I hadn't planned on coming down here tonight, but this is a sad and distressing day for this House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I suspect you know, some may not, but there are companies in America that are patriotic and they want to help our Nation fight against those who would do us harm. But amazingly, Mr. Speaker, they feel that they can't. And why? They believe that if they do, they will be sued. That is right, Mr. Speaker. Companies in America believe, and have been given counsel by their attorneys, that if they help the United States Government assist in making our Nation safer, they will be sued. The threat of trial lawyers are preventing our Nation from protecting itself.

Outrageous you say? So do I. So do I.

If Congress doesn't act this week, this week, critical tools that allow our intelligence officers to monitor terrorist communications overseas will expire. Yesterday, the Senate approved a bipartisan bill, a bipartisan bill by a vote of 68-29, to close the terrorist loophole in our intelligence law. The Senate bill represents a remarkable compromise between Congress and the administration.

It rightly restores the original intent of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, FISA, by ensuring that intelligence officials can conduct surveillance on foreign targets without a court order while still protecting the civil liberties of the American people.

It also grants liability protection to telecommunication companies that helped our government after September 11. Allowing these companies to be subject to frivolous lawsuits threatens their cooperation in the future and would cripple America's counterterrorism efforts. This, unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, appears to be what the House Democrat majority desires.

Every American will become exposed to greater threats. Every American: moms, dads, sons, daughters. Every single American is exposed to greater threats because this majority refuses to consider a long-term solution to the problems facing our intelligence community.

I haven't read, Mr. Speaker, that terrorists have placed an expiration date on their plots to destroy our way of life. Congress shouldn't put an expiration date on our intelligence community's ability to protect our Nation.

This bill expires this week. We must act. Mr. Speaker, elections have consequences, and it appears that the Democrat left majority now in charge is beholden to trial lawyers. I just didn't think that they would put those trial lawyers ahead of national security.

Mr. Speaker, this is a sad day. I can only hope that the American people are paying attention.

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