House leadership discusses new FISA passage

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D- Md.) and House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R- Mo.) held a press conference discussing the successful bipartisan passage of a new FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act).

Leader Hoyer emphasized that the new FISA will protect Americans while protecting their civil liberties as well. He said that under the new FISA, immunity for telephone companies alleged for “wiretapping” under the previous bill would be decided by courts, and that they would have to now have to “be sure to dot their ‘i’s’ and cross their ‘t’s” when listening in on phone conversations.

Congressman Blunt said that the bill will force America’s enemies to “think” before deciding to spy on our government, adding that the bill will protect America both domestically and abroad. Blunt stressed that the new bill is “not a form of domestic wiretapping,” and will be used to target “foreigners in foreign countries.”