HOUSE Republican Leader John Boehner

Washington, Oct 17, 2007 - Since Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and GOP leaders announced their motion-to-recommit proposal to ensure that our Intelligence Community can conduct surveillance on Osama Bin Laden, al Qaeda, or any other foreign terrorist organization targeting America for attack, Democratic leaders have been scrambling to line up votes from vulnerable Democrats to who are concerned about voting against the common-sense GOP proposal. With the House in disarray, Democratic leaders have delayed action on their bill amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

The Majority’s bill says that if a foreign target operating overseas – like Osama Bin Laden – has either had contact with a U. S. person or called a U.S. number, our intelligence officials would be required to obtain a FISA court order to listen into their communications. This is unacceptable, and it jeopardizes the safety and security of the American people. Boehner issued the following statement:

In a post titled “Putting Democrats on the Record on Terrorist Surveillance,” Jeff Emanuel from conservative blog Red State said the proposal will allow Democrats to act on their rhetoric:

Our intelligence officials should be empowered to act quickly to protect our troops and the American people, yet the Democrats’ bill takes a significant step backward that weakens our national security. Democrats should scrap their fatally-flawed FISA bill, and work with Republicans to make the Protect America Act permanent so the terrorist loophole in our surveillance laws can be closed once and for all.

READ MORE:

• Republican Proposal Would Ensure Intelligence Community Can Conduct Surveillance of Foreign Terrorists (10/17/07)
• Fatal Flaws: So-Called Restore Act Weakens America’s National Security (10/17/07)
• Boehner: U.S. Intelligence Officials, not Government Lawyers, Should Have the Tools to Protect American Troops (10/16/07)
• No Intelligent Signs of Life in Democrats’ FISA Loophole Bill (10/16/07)
• Washington Times Editorial Illustrates Tragic Consequences of Democrats’ Approach on FISA (10/11/07)
• Boehner: Democrats’ FISA Bill Puts Americans at Risk, Fails to Protect Our Men & Women in Uniform (10/10/07)
• Boehner: Republicans Will Fight to Permanently Close the Terrorist Loophole (10/9/07)