FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, March 14, 2008

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Clark Pettig (202) 225-5456

Shea-Porter Votes for Revised Surveillance Bill

Calls on President to Work with Congress to Give Intelligence Agencies the Tools they Need

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter today voted to pass a revised bill that would expand our ability to spy on suspected terrorists while still protecting the rights of innocent Americans. The legislation, which passed the House by a vote of 213 to 197, is an update to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that provides our intelligence agencies with new tools to conduct surveillance on foreign targets. The bill also contains strong Constitutional protections to ensure that the government does not illegally spy on Americans.

“The House has passed a strong compromise bill that does what Americans want – it protects our civil liberties and also protects our physical security,” said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. “I hope the President will sign this bill and give our intelligence agencies the tools they need.”

The House’s legislation also addresses issues raised by the FISA update that was passed by the Senate in February. The Senate’s bill would have reduced the role of the FISA court that guarantees that Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights are protected, and it would have granted retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that may have illegally participated in the President’s warrantless wiretapping program.

In addition to rejecting retroactive immunity, the House’s version of the FISA legislation streamlines the surveillance rules to make it easier for our intelligence agencies to spy on foreign targets who may be communicating with Americans. It also includes an emergency provision to guarantee that no information will be lost while waiting for a court warrant. In time-sensitive situations, our intelligence agencies could begin surveillance immediately and then seek a warrant up to seven days later.

A one page background sheet is attached below.

For more details about the House’s version of the FISA update legislation, visit:

http://shea-porter.house.gov/?sectionid=125&parentid=18§iontree=3,18,125&itemid=347