Russ Feingold

I opposed the amendment because it unnecessarily restricts the court's ability to consider important constitutional and statutory issues related to this legislation. The amendment limits the time for the court's consideration of challenges…

I wish to respond to the argument of the Senator from West Virginia that this amendment would somehow impose a burden because it would require the Government to identify information about U.S. persons. I wish to be clear, these use limits…

This amendment gives the FISA Court the option of preventing the Government from using information on U.S. persons that it has collected using targeting or minimization procedures that are later found to be illegal. As the legislation now…

the reverse targeting amendment No. 3913 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and is cosponsored by several of my colleagues. It simply ensures that the new authorities contained in this bill are not used to engage in what is…

I will support the bipartisan stimulus package today. It is better than doing nothing at all but not as good as we might have made it. I commend the Finance Committee chair and ranking member, as well as our majority leader, Senator Reid…

I object to that characterization. I think this is clearly the kind of thing we should be worried about. I will tell you what is a tired accusation: the notion that somehow our amendment would affect the ability of the Government to listen…

Briefly, Mr. President, it is important to put in the Record that the Judiciary Committee, after carefully considering this not just in the context of intelligence--and I do serve on the Intelligence Committee as well--but in the context…

It is sort of odd that we are debating these two amendments together. But there is one advantage. Under our system of government, the way we make sure that abuses don't occur is by passing laws to make it absolutely clear that abuses…

this amendment, approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, assures the new authorities contained in this bill will not be used to engage in what is known as ``reverse targeting of Americans.'' FISA requires the Government to get a court…

this confirms that when the Government has an interest in an American, it is entirely up to the discretion of the FBI to decide whether the Government will seek a warrant to listen to that American's communications. But the FBI may not…

this amendment ensures that in implementing the new authorities provided in this bill, the Government is acquiring the communications of targets in whom it has some foreign intelligence interest and is not conducting bulk collection of all…

let me agree with the Chair that it is important to clarify what these amendments do and do not do, not only for purposes of voting on the amendment, but for any court consideration of this issue. The arguments of the chairman and ranking…

this amendment is a provision that was part of the Judiciary Committee bill. It was included in a larger substitute amendment adopted in that committee that was sponsored by Senator Leahy and cosponsored by Senator Feinstein, Senator…

responding to the comments just made, the Senator from Missouri, in responding to the Feingold-Webb-Tester amendment, tried to indicate that this will prevent us from going after spies and others from foreign states. First, under our…

the Protect America Act we passed last year was sold repeatedly as a way to allow the Government to collect foreign-to-foreign communications without needing the approval of the FISA Court. Last week, the Vice President defended the…

just over 1 month ago, in the days before the December 27 president election, I noted that it had become the closest political contest in that country's history and that the two leading candidates were running robust, active campaigns…

this amendment is a straightforward reporting requirement that is critical if Congress is to understand how the foreign intelligence surveillance laws it passes, including this one, are being interpreted and applied. The issue is very…

I strongly support Senator Leahy in his effort to replace the Senate Intelligence Committee bill with the version passed by the Judiciary Committee. I am a member of both of these committees. As a member of both committees, I have been…

I rise to oppose the second-degree amendment. This is a classic example of people hiding behind a tragedy in this country to make arguments that have no merit. This argument, that the provision of pleadings, legal arguments by the…

I am pleased to support the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2007. This bill is long overdue, and I hope that we in the Senate can ensure this bill's quick passage. There are significant unmet needs in Indian Country…

today I wish to honor our distinguished Secretary of the Majority, Martin Paone, who announced recently his plans to leave the Senate after almost 30 years of exemplary service. During his career in the Senate, Marty has helped to guide…

I oppose the fiscal year 2008 Defense authorization bill because it authorizes $189.5 billion for the war in Iraq but does nothing to end the President's misguided, open-ended Iraq policy. That policy has overburdened our military…

I thank Senators Harkin and Chambliss for their tireless work on this important bill. I know that both worked diligently on this legislation, and that, like all of us, they have the best interests of America's farmers, ranchers, rural and…

The amendment is one I have offered before. I will not hesitate, if I must, to offer it again and again and again. The 17 cosponsors is the greatest number we have ever had for this amendment. It requires the President to begin safely…

Instead of allowing the courts to apply that law to the facts, instead of allowing judges to decide whether the companies deserve immunity for acting appropriately, the Intelligence Committee bill sends the message that companies need not…