Political Quotes

“In this debate about revising FISA and cleaning up the damage done by the President's warrantless wiretapping program, the administration has talked at length about the importance of our foreign intelligence activities. It expends all its rhetorical energy on a topic where we all agree, but it has largely ignored the issue that has been central to our debate: On what terms will this administration spy on Americans? I rise today in support of an amendment offered by myself; by the distinguished chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Chairman Rockefeller; the distinguished chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Leahy; Senator Schumer of New York; and Senator Feingold of Wisconsin, that addresses this issue: the privacy of Americans from Government surveillance. Our amendment reflects the convergence of ideas Senator Schumer has been working on in the Judiciary Committee and I was working on in the Intelligence Committee and, similarly, Senator Feingold has played a critical role in advancing this issue in both committees.”