OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Providing for Further Consideration of H.R. 3773, Restore Act of 2007

Date: Nov. 15, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security


PROVIDING FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3773, RESTORE ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - November 15, 2007)

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Mr. DOGGETT. But there is an ``alien'' issue in this bill and only one alien issue--those who have been so alien to the freedoms we hold dear as Americans.

This is an Administration that has desecrated our Constitution, debased our values and repeatedly undermined our freedoms. For a party that purports to hate Big Government, these Republicans sure do seem to love Big Brother. They demand unlimited Executive power and unrestrained authority to intrude into our everyday lives. Today, we dare to impose some limitations on one of so many examples of their callous disregard of our liberties.

If even former Attorney General John Ashcroft, sitting there in his hospital bed in intensive care, if even he could recognize the illegality of the surveillance that DICK CHENEY demanded, why shouldn't we in Congress be able to do the same? And if one telecommunications company had the courage to say ``no'' to this Administration's wrongdoing, why not the others? And why would we want to protect these corporate accomplices in the surreptitious destruction of our freedom from any accountability whatsoever?

[Time: 10:45]

Yesterday, we told this President ``no more blank checks for Iraq.'' And today we say no more unauthorized blanket surveillance of American citizens. Those of us who love liberty must stand up to this Administration's fear-mongering, to its continued leveraging of fear for its own political purposes.

As Mr. Cheney's current chief of staff once said and what many Americans now recognize is an irresponsible and unconstitutional expansion of Presidential power: ``We're going to push and push and push until some larger force makes us stop.''

Well, today we must be that force. This Congress must stay ``stop.''

Liberty is our strength. Fear is our enemy. This legislation strikes an appropriate balance to keep our families safe and ensure they remain free.

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