Jay Rockefeller: “I oppose this amendment. The Senator from Wisconsin is offering an amendment that he argues will prevent what he calls…”

“I oppose this amendment. The Senator from Wisconsin is offering an amendment that he argues will prevent what he calls ``bulk collection.'' The amendment is intended, as described by the Senator from Wisconsin, to ensure that this bill is not used by the Government to collect the contents of all the international communications between the United States and the rest of the world. The Senator argues that his amendment will prevent ``bulk collection'' by requiring the Government to have some foreign intelligence interest in the overseas party to the communications it is collecting. I regret to say that I must oppose this amendment. I do not believe it is necessary. I do believe as drafted the amendment will interfere with legitimate intelligence operations that protect the national security and the lives of Americans. In considering amendments today, we need to consider whether an amendment would provide additional protections for U.S. persons and whether it would needlessly inhibit vital foreign intelligence collection. I do not believe the amendment as drafted provides additional protections. Furthermore, intelligence professionals have expressed their concern that this amendment would interfere with vital intelligence operations and there are important classified reasons underlying that concern.”