February 27, 2008
"The American people understand we need to be listening to the enemy. … I would just tell you there's no compromise on whether these phone companies get liability protection."
– President George W. Bush
(The Associated Press, 2/21/08)
- The Senate passed legislation by a wide, bipartisan majority to ensure our intelligence professionals have the tools they need to protect the country, but House leaders last week irresponsibly blocked the Senate bill from coming to a vote. It is clear that, if it had been allowed to come to the floor, this important measure – which passed the Senate by a supermajority vote of 68-29 – would have passed the House with a bipartisan majority.
- Because the House left for a 10-day holiday recess without passing the bipartisan Senate bill, the Protect America Act has expired. This temporary measure was passed last August to provide our Intelligence Community with vital tools as Congress considered longer-term legislation.
- By failing to pass the bipartisan Senate bill, the House has caused private-sector companies to become less willing to provide essential help to our Intelligence Community.
- The House's failure to act has weakened the ability of the Intelligence Community to obtain vital information, including the location, intentions, and capabilities of terrorists and other foreign intelligence targets abroad.
- Further temporary extensions of the Protect America Act are not an option – the House must pass the bipartisan Senate bill so our intelligence professionals have critical and lasting tools to protect the Nation.
This Week’s Note From Jo Ann:
This is a very important issue and we need to point out the risk that we face due to the Democrat leadership in the US House playing politics. Please use every opportunity to carry the message that the US House must act and must pass the bipartisan legislation already approved overwhelmingly by the US Senate.
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