Kuhl Applauds Senate Passage of FISA

Statement

Kuhl Applauds Senate Passage of FISA

U.S. Representative John R. "Randy" Kuhl, Jr. (R-Hammondsport) released the following statement today after the Senate passed the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Act to modernize the FISA legislation written in 1978:

"After months of debate, the Senate today passed the FISA Amendments Act, which will amend the original FISA bill written in 1978. Over the last 30 years, changes in communication technology have occurred that have made the FISA of 1978 obsolete. And as such, foreign terrorists were using modern technology to evade the provisions that were not included in the original legislation. But, with the passing of this bill by both houses of Congress and hopefully the signature of the President, our intelligence communities will be better equipped to collect the foreign intelligence necessary to protect our homeland.

Although this bill should have been completed and signed into law months ago, the final version of this legislation represents a bipartisan compromise. Similar to the bipartisan cooperation reached on the Economic Stimulus Package, FISA demonstrates what can be accomplished when Congress works together. Both of these bills were completed when the Democratic leadership reached across the aisle to work with the Republicans. I urge the leadership to continue the same bipartisanship and work with the Republicans to solve our current energy crisis. It will only be when Democrats allow a vote on opening up American made energy resources that we can begin to achieve energy independence and lower gas prices.

The FISA legislation achieves all of the goals of the intelligence community while protecting individual liberties. I am pleased to support this modernized FISA legislation and urge the President to sign it into law."

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