Floor Statements
Floor Debate on the Protect America Act of 2007
Washington, DC,
August 3, 2007
Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this dangerous and ill-considered legislation. Once again, this House is being stampeded by fear-mongering and deception into signing away our rights. If you trust this President and if you trust this dishonest Attorney General to exercise unfettered power to spy on Americans without any court supervision, then you should support this bill. If you still believe in the America our Founders, the Framers and every succeeding generation has fought and died for, then you must oppose this legislation. This bill is not what the Director of National Intelligence told us he needed. That was embodied in the bill that we considered last night and that we should be considering tonight, the House bill. We were told that we needed to fix the foreign-to-foreign intelligence. That bill fixed it. We were told we had to compel electronics companies to do what the government needs to do on properly authorized surveillance. That bill did it. The Director of National Intelligence told us we had to deal with all foreign intelligence, we had to deal with recurring communications into the United States from foreign targets. That bill did it. That bill dealt with everything we were told was necessary for national security. This bill is what Karl Rove and his political operatives in the White House decided they need to win elections. That is not national security, that is political warfare.
I do not believe we will soon be able to undo this damage. Rights given away are not easily regained. This bill is not needed to protect America from terrorists. We should stand up for America. We should stand up for our freedoms. We should stand up for our security. We should reject this bill so we can go and do the right thing and pass the bill that we had on the floor last night that did everything necessary for our national security. It gave us all the right to do the wiretapping and the surveillance we need. We should all be willing to stay here as long as it takes. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.'' Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman has alleged illegal acts by the President's Administration in his speech. I ask that those words be taken down. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the words. Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, in the interest of our getting home at some reasonable hour, I will be happy to withdraw the truthful and accurate statements I made a moment ago. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New York? Mr. ISSA. The gentleman asked to withdraw the what statements? I couldn't quite hear it. Mr. NADLER. Accurate statement I made a moment ago. Mr. ISSA. No, he is not withdrawing them if he claims they are accurate. They are inaccurate. Mr. NADLER. I am withdrawing them. Mr. ISSA. Is the gentleman withdrawing them without any other reservation? Mr. NADLER. I withdraw them without any reservations; but I retain my opinion. Mr. ISSA. That's fair. Thank you. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the words are withdrawn. |