Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tn.) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tn.) voted on Wednesday in favor of H.R.6304, the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) Amendments Act of 2008, which reauthorizes the terrorist surveillance program responsible for monitoring the communications of foreign terrorists.
A temporary extension of the program is set to expire in August without Congressional action. H.R.6304 passed the Senate by a vote of 69 to 28.
In June, the House of Representatives approved the bill by a vote of 293 to 129. Having passed both houses of Congress, the legislation now goes to the President to be signed into law.
“Allowing U.S. intelligence agencies to monitor terrorist communications is vital to our national security and reauthorization of this program will help prevent future terrorist attacks against the United States,” Sen. Corker said.
“After extensive bipartisan negotiations between the White House and Congress, this compromise bill establishes the appropriate and necessary updates to the current FISA law so we can continue to protect our citizens’ privacy while at the same time ensuring their security and well-being. The legislation also reasserts the role of the FISA court in approving surveillance actions with the speed and efficiency necessary to address immediate threats and the role of Congress in providing the oversight essential to our democracy.
“Americans can be reassured that their constitutional rights will be secured while our government will retain the tools necessary to track terrorists throughout the world,” he said.
Sen. Alexander released the following statement regarding his vote in favor of H.R. 6304:
“The Senate passed legislation months ago to continue surveillance of suspected terrorists, and I’m glad Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives finally scheduled a vote to keep this important program going. Passing this bill is the most important thing we can do in Congress to help defeat al Qaeda. This bipartisan legislation allows our intelligence agencies to monitor terrorists before they attack so we can prevent future plots against our country.”