WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Lois Capps released the following statement after the House held a secret session late last night to discuss information regarding the debate on legislation to modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):

“Yesterday House Republicans requested that the House go into secret session to discuss what they characterized as new and important information regarding efforts to modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).  Going into secret session is an extremely unusually procedure in the House – in fact, since 1825 it has only been done three times and at no time since 1983.  When the House goes into secret session the public and the press are barred from witnessing the discussion of the Members, and Members are precluded from discussing the details of what is revealed in these sessions.  Given the rarity of these secret sessions, I would hope the material discussed would warrant such an extraordinary step.  

“Unfortunately, last night’s secret session did not provide any new information regarding the pending legislation and its surrounding issues.  Calling for this secret session appears to have been more of a political stunt than an effort to educate Members.   That is incredibly disappointing given the deadly seriousness of these important issues.  I remain convinced that the FISA legislation House Democrats have produced will provide our intelligence agencies with all the tools they need – and say they need – to protect our country.  Importantly, this legislation also preserves the civil liberties of all Americans and I will proudly support this bill when we vote on it later today.”

###

Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.