WASHINGTON, March 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) issued the following statement today after House Democrats once again indicated that they will push off action on a responsible, bipartisan plan to modernize our country's Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for another week:
"Despite an insistence by Democratic leadership that passing a much needed update to our nation's terrorist surveillance laws is of vital importance, its actions continue to speak much louder than its words.
"Since the Protect America Act expired on February 16th, the majority has allowed a dimmer switch to gradually darken our nation's ability to track and monitor terrorists abroad. It has now been almost three weeks since our intelligence agents have had the tools they needed to do their job.
"The Democratic Leadership's delays are as unnecessary as they are unacceptable. The solution is easy and a majority of the House agrees. The time for negotiations has come and gone - the overwhelming Senate vote was just one clear signal. If their bill was brought to a vote, it would pass and become law - finally allowing our nation to track the terrorists who wish to bring us harm, without having to cut through bureaucratic red tape."
NOTE: The House Democratic Leader said last week that legislation to modernize our nation's surveillance laws was a "very serious, important bill. It's critical to the defense of our country." However, The Politico (http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0308/FISA_vote_pushed_back_again.html) reports today that the Democrat Leadership has decided not to bring the bipartisan legislation to the floor for a vote this week. Before the Protect America Act expired in February, Democrats advocated for a temporary extension to allow further review of this issue. That three week patch would have expired this Friday. House Republicans will again force a vote to bring a FISA modernization to the floor this afternoon.
House Republican Whip Roy Blunt
