Intelligence Bill Fails to Protect American Citizens
In a rush to adjourn for the month of August, the Majority tonight hurried to draft and pass an intelligence bill that will severely hamper the gathering of foreign intelligence through surveillance. Congressman Tim Murphy (PA-18), who opposed the legislation, released the following statement:
"One of the most important factors in winning the war on terror is our ability to gather accurate and timely intelligence on terrorists operating in foreign countries. Unfortunately, instead of closing a loophole in current law that requires a warrant for our intelligence agencies to find foreign terrorists, it expands it to require a FISA Court order to collect intelligence on foreign targets in foreign countries. This is surveillance not aimed at Americans, but foreign individuals in other countries who could be planning an attack on our nation.
"Previously, the FISA Court was not even involved in foreign intelligence gathering. Now our intelligence community will have additional restrictions slowing down their efforts to gather crucial information. The consequence of today's poorly crafted legislation is that foreign terrorists will be protected, not American citizens by taking away the eyes and ears of our intelligence community. I strongly urge the Majority to stay in Washington until these loopholes are properly fixed."
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