FISA Amendments Act of 2007

Floor Speech

FISA AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2007 -- (Senate - February 12, 2008)

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Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, earlier today the Senate voted to invoke cloture on the bipartisan Rockefeller-Bond bill. It was not a close vote. Rather, it was a strong bipartisan show of support for this important piece of legislation.

The Protect America Act expires at the end of this week. That is Saturday, February 16.

Twenty-one House Democrats have written to Speaker Pelosi saying they ``fully support'' the Rockefeller-Bond bill if it is not changed substantially--and it was not changed--and they urge her, the Speaker, to ``quickly consider'' the bill in order ``to get a bill signed into law before the Protect America Act expires in February.''

I have a copy of the letter signed by 21 Democrats, so-called Blue Dog Democrats, in the House. I ask unanimous consent that it be printed in the Record.

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Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, it is clear that not only does the Rockefeller-Bond bill enjoy bipartisan majority support in the Senate, it also enjoys bipartisan majority support in the House. It is a tribute to the fine work of the Senator from West Virginia, Mr. Rockefeller, and the Senator from Missouri, Mr. Bond, in pulling this complex piece of legislation together and getting extraordinary support across the aisle.

This bill protects the country. It is a bill that will be signed by the President of the United States, so we are making a law here. We need to focus on completing action on this legislation and get it to the President before the Protect America Act expires.

As to further delays: Back in August, our Democratic colleagues said an additional 6 months was needed to get this right. In the fall, they said: We need a little more time. Last month, they said: Give us another 15 days and we can wrap it up. At this point, no Member of this body can reasonably state this piece of legislation was hastily or unfairly considered. It has been the product of 6 months' work, intense work on behalf of Senator Rockefeller and Senator Bond.

We do not need yet another extension, yet another delay. We need to focus on getting our work done. I am confident that with the help of our friends on the other side of the aisle, we can get a second bipartisan accomplishment to the President in as many weeks. Tomorrow, he will sign the stimulus package--an important bipartisan accomplishment. Later in the week, he could conceivably be in a position to sign this important piece of bipartisan legislation.

I encourage my colleagues in the House and the Senate to redouble their efforts toward this end. That would show the American people that Congress can indeed function on a bipartisan basis on important issues before the country.

I am among those proud of the fine work done by Senator Rockefeller and Senator Bond. This is a terrific, important piece of legislation. I know it will pass the Senate shortly, overwhelmingly.

I yield the floor.

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