Dr. Steve Hudson On the House Passage of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008; Questions Van Hollen’s Lack Of Bipartisanship

SILVER SPRING, MD (June 20, 2008) Dr. Steve Hudson, eighth district congressional candidate, released the following statement on the House passage of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008.

“I commend the bipartisan effort shown by Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer in working with the President to pass this bill. Partisan politics must not impede our national security. I urge the Senate to continue with this same bipartisan spirit, keeping in mind what is at stake and quickly pass this bill.”  Senator Obama already pledged his support. 

Senator Obama:  "Given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as president, I will carefully monitor the program." (Paul Kane,“Obama Supports FISA Legislation, Angering Left,” Washington Post’s Trail Blog, http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail, Accessed June 20, 2008)

The FISA Amendments Act of 2008 passed the House on a 293-129 vote. This legislation provides for protection of civil liberties and privacy for Americans, in that such surveillance must be targeted to ensure only persons reasonably believed to be outside the United States will be targeted by authorities, and with frequent checks by FISA courts. To target Americans, there must be probable cause to seek an individual judicial order for surveillance to occur.

In addition, telephone companies protected by the FISA legislation must comply fully with all standards and procedures of the act to be eligible for protection under the law. Both Congress and the Executive Branch will maintain oversight. The FISA Act will expire at the end of 2012. Eighth District Congressman Chris Van Hollen voted against the FISA Amendments Act.

“With the compromises that took place on both sides of the aisle, it is unfortunate that Chris Van Hollen chose once again to continue down the bitter partisan road and voted against the FISA legislation. In this new age of terrorism, it is astonishing that he would place party politics over our country’s national security interests.”