Leonard L. Boswell: “I thank Chairman Reyes for the time and your dedicated leadership and hard work to effect oversight over our Nation's…”

“I thank Chairman Reyes for the time and your dedicated leadership and hard work to effect oversight over our Nation's multiple intelligence gathering agencies. In the process of this debate regarding FISA, we have strived to make America safe and exercise and protect the Constitution and Americans' civil liberties. As I have heard Congressman Tierney say at different times, if we had followed FISA, we wouldn't be here today, and I appreciate that very, very much. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, and I don't know, none of us do, whatever reason, this President has repeatedly used executive orders and end-run the provisions, protections of FISA that work for the purposes intended. Several weeks ago, I became concerned that our private telecom companies might be falsely accused and have the effect of putting a chill on their response in the future. I felt a gut confidence that pressure from on high was put on, i.e., we have an emergency, and we, the government, must have your assistance or a terrible event would happen.”