Larsen Votes for FISA Bill to Give Intelligence Community Tools it Needs, Protect Civil Liberties
For Immediate Release
Contact: Amanda Mahnke
(202) 225-2605
March 14, 2008
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement today after voting for the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 3773) which passed the House by a vote of 213 to 197:
“This legislation gives the intelligence community the tools it needs to effectively track down terrorists around the world, and ensures that an independent judicial authority approves surveillance that targets American citizens.
“Our bill rejects the President’s demands to provide blanket immunity for telecommunications companies who may have illegally shared information about their customers at the Bush administration’s request. Instead, it provides a legal avenue for their cases to be heard in a federal court, which will in turn help uncover the facts about the Administration’s warrantless wiretapping program.”
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