Tom Price

Mr. PRICE of Georgia

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate so much the opportunity to once again come before the House and address issues of concern, to bring another version of the Official Truth Squad. The Official Truth Squad started a couple of years ago and was an attempt to, actually grew out of a frustration by many of my colleagues and I who watched what occurred on the floor of the House here and felt that there just wasn't a lot of sunshine going on, bringing light to many of the discussions. And so we launched the Official Truth Squad. The attempt was to try to hopefully bring some commonsense discussion, real-sense discussion to the conversations that go on here in the House on a number of different topics. One of our favorite quotes is that of the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan who said, ``Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but they're not entitled to their own facts.'' And so, Mr. Speaker, what I'd like to do today for a little bit is just to talk about some facts. And one fact that I'd like to present as I begin is that, about a week ago, exactly a week ago, Thursday of last week, a little earlier in the day I took this same well, and I made the comment that at that time it was a specific hour on the clock. Today, as a matter of fact, it's 3:34 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. Many individuals are just getting completed with a full day's work or about to complete a full day's work. A lot of folks are getting ready for the second shift, getting ready to start their shift from 3 to 11 across this Nation. Some who will be working the midnight shift, the late shift, are probably just putting their head on the pillow so that they can get some sleep before they get back up later this evening to get to work tonight. And where's the House? Well, Mr. Speaker, if you look around you can tell that the House has gone home. The House has gone home. In fact, we went home today without even passing a bill, without even voting on a bill. Mr. Speaker, the American people have great concern about the lack of productivity here in the House, and they have specific concern about the inability, apparent inability of this House and this leadership to address the issues that are of utmost concern to the American people. We take an oath, Mr. Speaker, as you know, that says that we will work to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. One of the ways that we do that is to make certain that the individuals who are gaining information on our behalf from folks across the world who wish to do us harm, that we get that information, that we're working with as much information as possible, that we, as a Nation, know what the bad guys are going to do before they do it. When we don't, what happens is days like 9/11. And so, Mr. Speaker, shortly after 9/11 there were some laws that were passed that updated our intelligence capability, that made it so that our intelligence officers across the world would be able to track and listen to and discover electronic communication, verbal and otherwise, when terrorists outside of the United States were talking to other terrorists outside of the United States. Mr. Speaker, I represent the Sixth District of Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. When I ask folks at home does anybody think that's not a good idea, should we be able to listen to terrorists outside of our country when they talk to other terrorists outside of our country, and they might be talking about plans to bring many of us great harm, should we be able to listen if we had the technological capability to do so, I haven't met anybody yet, not one person yet who thought that was a bad idea. This is not the Federal Government wiretapping, surveilling, listening in on conversations between you and me. This is not the issue. The issue is not whether or not the laws ought to be changed to determine whether or not our intelligence officers can listen to American citizens talking to American citizens on American soil. No, Mr. Speaker, this issue is the ability of our intelligence officers to listen to terrorists or suspected terrorists outside the United States who are talking or communicating with others of like mind outside the United States. Should we be able to do that? Mr. Speaker, the Senate thinks we ought to be able to do that, by a bipartisan majority, 68-29. Up until this leadership, the House thought we ought to be able to do that. The American people think we ought to be able to do that. But the problem now, Mr. Speaker, is this leadership in the House of Representatives who has allowed this law to expire. This leadership has made it so that the American people are suffering from an American Government that has brought about a unilateral, unilateral disarmament when it comes to determining what terrorists are doing, plotting to do us great harm. That's not my opinion. That's a fact. That's a fact. I'll give you some other facts here, Mr. Speaker. What has happened in the past week, since I last took this well and spoke about this issue is that a letter was sent out from a bipartisan group of 25 State Attorneys General talking about this FISA bill. I will submit this letter for insertion into the Record. March 4, 2008. Re FISA Amendments Act of 2007 (S. 2248) Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, Washington, DC. Hon. Steny Hoyer, Majority Leader, Washington, DC. Hon. John Boehner, Minority Leader, Washington, DC. Hon. Roy Blunt, Minority Whip, Washington, DC. Dear Madam Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, Minority Leader Boehner and Minority Whip Blunt: We urge the House of Representatives to schedule a vote and pass S. 2248, the FISA Amendments Act of 2007. This bipartisan legislation is critical to the national security of the United States. Once passed, S. 2248 will ensure intelligence officials have the ability to collect vitally important information about foreign terrorists operating overseas. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-WV) authored S. 2248 to solve a critical problem that arose when the Protect America Act was allowed to lapse on February 16, 2008. The root of the problem stems from a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (``FISA'') Court order that jeopardizes America's national security efforts. Under that decision, U.S. intelligence agencies must obtain a FISA warrant before initiating surveillance involving suspected foreign terrorists located outside the United States. The FISA Court's decision hinged on the fact that those entirely foreign communications are frequently routed through telecommunications facilities that happen to be located in the United States. Because modern global communications networks routinely route data through numerous facilities in a myriad of countries, the nation in which the call originates may be completely unrelated to the nation through which that call is ultimately routed. A bipartisan majority of the United States Senate recently approved S. 2248. But until it is also passed by the House of Representatives, intelligence officials must obtain FISA warrants every time they attempt to monitor suspected terrorists in overseas countries. Passing S. 2248 would ensure our intelligence experts are once again able to conduct real-time surveillance. As you know, prompt access to intelligence data is critical to the ongoing safety and security of our nation. As Attorneys General, we are our states' chief law enforcement officials and therefore responsible for taking whatever action is necessary to keep our citizens safe. With S. 2248 still pending in the House of Representatives, our national security is in jeopardy. We therefore urge the House of Representatives to schedule a vote and pass the FISA Amendments Act of 2007. Sincerely, Attorney General Greg Abbott (R-TX), Attorney General Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Attorney General Thurbert Baker (D-GA), Attorney General Jon Bruning (R-NE), Attorney General Steve Carter (R-IN), Attorney General Talis Colberg (R-AL), Attorney General Roy Cooper (D-NC), Attorney General Tom Corbett (R-PA), Attorney General Mike Cox (R-MI), Attorney General W.A. Drew Edmondson (D-OK), Attorney General Doug Gansler (D-MD), Attorney General Troy King (R-MI), Attorney General Larry Long (R-SD), Attorney General Patrick Lynch (D-RI), Attorney General Bill McCollum (R-FL), Attorney General Dustin McDaniel (D-AR), Attorney General Bob McDonnell (R-VA), Attorney General Darrell McGraw (D-WV), Attorney General Rob McKenna (R-WA), Attorney General Henry McMaster (R-SC), Attorney General Mark Shurtleff (R- UT), Attorney General Stephen Six (D-KS), Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem (R-ND), Attorney General John Suthers (R-CO), Attorney General Lawrence Wasden (R-

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Thank you for bringing greater clarity to that, Mr. Hoekstra. And before you joined us, I read and inserted into the Record a letter from 25 State attorneys general talking about the importance of FISA, a bipartisan group of individuals across this Nation who have the responsibility of keeping their States safe. And they understand and appreciate the imperative of this. Again, this gets so confusing to the American people because the people that apparently don't want this to pass want the American people to be confused. This is pretty simple, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. I yield.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. It's affecting the information that they're able to get. But it's communication from a foreign individual on foreign soil to another foreign individual on foreign soil. This is not between an American individual on American soil to another American individual on American soil. Mr. Speaker, when it's confused and brought into kind of a perplexing dilemma for people and talking about the violation of Americans' civil rights, that's not what this is about. This is about protecting Americans from terrorists overseas. And what we have seen in the last 19 or 20 days is exactly what Senator Rockefeller knew when we see, when he said on February 14 of this year: ``What people have to understand around here is that the quality of intelligence we are going to be receiving is going to be degraded.'' He said, stating before the Senate, that if this bill is not passed, the ability to gather intelligence will be degraded. Mr. Speaker, that means that we are not able to get the intelligence we need. We are now 19, 20 days into not having this bill in place, not having this law in place. And why? I have difficulty when I get asked at home that question. My constituents, many of them, will say, why won't they pass the bill? A majority of the House wants it. Right? And that's correct. Twenty-one Members on the Democrat side have said they would vote for the bill. The vast majority, if not everybody, on the Republican side would vote for the bill. Mr. Speaker, you know, that's a majority of this House of Representatives. So let the House work its will. Why won't they bring it up? The only rationale, the only reason that has made any sense to anybody, is purely political. Purely political, either to continue the issue for their left, liberal wing because they believe they could gain political points with it or the political nature of not making it so the communications companies have immunity from the information that they provide on foreign individuals, terrorists overseas communicating with other terrorists overseas, providing those individuals the same protections that we have under the United States Constitution. Never before has that been done. Never before have we provided individuals in a foreign land, non-American citizens in a foreign land, the rights, privileges, and protections of the United States Constitution. Because of the trial lawyer lobby and because of the trial lawyer support for the majority party, the Democratic Party, that's apparently the only reasonable answer to the question, Why won't they allow this to come forward? But, Mr. Speaker, the leadership has recognized, at least they say they have recognized, the importance of this issue. Just 6 days ago, the majority leader said: ``This is a very serious, important bill. It's critical to the defense of our country.'' Just last week he said this. Why, then, Mr. Speaker, are we not voting on it today? It's 4:25. There's no reason that we ought not have brought this bill up today or yesterday or the day before or tomorrow. But, Mr. Speaker, no, the House has gone home. Individual after individual has appreciated and recognized the importance of this bill, that the terrorists, those who want to do us harm, are very nimble. They're very flexible. They're very bright. Members of the House of Representatives oftentimes have the opportunity to go to Iraq and to Afghanistan. I was talking to a colleague who was there just 11 days ago. That's just a week into when we didn't have this capability. And 11 days ago, this Member of this body, this House of Representatives, was told by a general on the ground in Iraq that the information they were receiving was not as of high quality as it had been the week before. Changes occur that rapidly in the ability to gain information. Mr. Speaker, some say that the individuals representing them across this Nation are incapable of leading this Nation anymore. Some say that the actions of this House of Representatives border upon treasonous activity. Mr. Speaker, this isn't leadership that's going on in this House right now; it's an abrogation of duty. It's an abrogation of responsibility. It's a violation of the people's trust. It's a violation of the oath of office. Mr. Speaker, the American people are demanding that this be voted on and that it be voted on at the first opportunity, which now becomes next week. Mr. Speaker, the Senate Republicans have voted ``yes.'' The Senate Democrats have voted ``yes.'' The House Republicans will vote ``yes'' when given the opportunity. The House Democrat leadership is the only thing standing in the way of passing the Protect America Act and securing and defending this Nation in only the way that we can now, with appropriate intelligence capability. We must do that and we must do that as soon as possible.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for her comments and for her perspective and for bringing more light and truth to this issue. And it is not just our opinion. It's the opinion of so many individuals. As you mentioned, the bipartisan bill in the United States Senate, 68-29. These aren't the most harmonious of times in Washington, Mr. Speaker; but the gentlelady from Tennessee and I certainly understand and appreciate that one of our primary responsibilities is the protection of our Nation. And the Senate understood that, and that's why they worked together in a bipartisan way. So many individuals have given their opinion about why this was important. Mike McConnell, who is the Director of National Intelligence, said before the House Intelligence Committee, We are significantly burdened in capturing overseas communications of foreign terrorists planning to conduct attacks inside the United States. That's what the Director of National Intelligence said. And Senator Jay Rockefeller, a Democrat from West Virginia who is the chairman of the Intelligence Committee in the Senate, said just last month, What people have to understand around here is that the quality of the intelligence we are going to be receiving is going to be degraded. He said that, if we allow the Protect America Act to expire. Well, Mr. Speaker, we didn't allow it to expire, but the leadership in the House has allowed it to expire. And that's what concerns us so greatly. I know that my friend from Tennessee appreciates what Senator Rockefeller has said as it relates to this issue, and I am pleased to yield back.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Exactly. Exactly.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend once again for her comments and perspective on this most important issue. I don't know, Mr. Speaker, if there's anything that we do here that is more important than making certain that America is safe and secure. And the American people, although they know that there are partisan battles and political games that are played here, they understand and appreciate that. But what they don't understand is a leadership that abrogates the duty and responsibility that they have to make certain that this Nation is safe. Person after person, individuals who have great knowledge and experience in this area, much greater than those of us in the House of Representatives in terms of actual hands-on experience in determining what the terrorists are trying to do to do us harm, to a person, to a person say that this is a bill that must be passed. We are now 19 or 20 days into not having the ability to gain this intelligence, and it is harming our Nation. It is putting us at greater risk. We've been joined by another good friend from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland), and I look forward to your comments on the issue of the importance and imperative of passing the Protect America Act, and I will yield to him.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Reclaiming my time, I appreciate that. Mr. Speaker, it's kind of appropriate that we are interrupted by a unanimous consent request, a motion that says we ought not do anything in this House until next week, let's just go home. My friend from Georgia points out that we haven't been doing a lot this year, haven't been doing a whole lot this 110th Congress. And the American people can tolerate a lot in their political leaders, but what they can't tolerate is inaction on important issues and matters of national concern, national security. So, it frustrates them, it frustrates us that this leadership won't bring this bill to the floor. Twenty-one Members of the majority party have signed a letter that said they would vote for this; 21 Members. This bill would pass if it were just brought to the floor. I am pleased to yield to my good friend from Tennessee.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. You're absolutely right. And that's what people get frustrated by is the partisanship and the political games being played. I yield to my friend from Georgia.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Reclaiming my time, I appreciate that. We are ready for action. We are ready for action. The American people are ready for action on this issue; in fact, they're demanding it. And that's why we have begun, I think over the last week or so, to hear the language on the other side change, but their actions haven't changed.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Without a doubt. And our constituents understand and appreciate that. The folks that we're up against in this battle, the individuals who wish to do us harm, are very smart people, very smart people. And we have an open society. When we provide them an opening in that open society, they will take advantage of it. And as you say, it's unconscionable. It's unconscionable for this House to not allow a vote on it. Some of my constituents at home say, well, why can't you just bring it up? And as you've mentioned, we have tried to bring it up, but the House is a very majoritarian body, it is run by strict rules. And if the leadership of the majority party doesn't want it to happen, it won't happen. If the majority party doesn't want it to happen, it won't happen. And the reason for that is they control absolutely everything that comes to the floor. And consequently, our constituents, our friends at home get frustrated by the fact that we, in this House of Representatives, seem to be unable to get this done. And we've called on, I've called on, everybody here has called on the Democrat leadership, on the Speaker, on the leader on the other side to bring this to a vote. We're comfortable and confident that this House will do the right thing, will do the responsible thing, and will pass this bill.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. I thank you for those comments. We're pleased to be joined by our good friend from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra), who is the ranking member, former chairman of the Intelligence Committee, understands this issue as well as anybody, and has been a champion for not just his constituents in the State of Michigan but all Americans in bringing focus on it. I am pleased to yield to my good friend.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Absolutely.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. I appreciate that, because what you point out is that in a relatively short period of time, which is what we've been saying, the terrorists are flexible. They change based upon what happens here at home.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. What occurs on the floor of this House is consequential. Who is to say that there wouldn't have been information that would have been gained, had we had this bill in place, that would have been gained that would have allowed us to know that those activities were going to go on today? I am pleased to yield back.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Without a doubt. And there are so many things that have occurred during the discussion about this issue that have been sad and distressing. That was one of them today, as you saw the chuckles go across on the other side of the aisle when the companies, the patriotic companies, are trying to assist this administration, assist this government, assist our intelligence community in being able to protect all of us; and all they do is denigrate them. It's just so distressing because it's such disinformation and misinformation that it confuses our constituents. But what our constituents understand and appreciate is that it is the majority party in this House that won't allow this House to vote on a bill to protect America. I'm pleased to yield to my friend from Georgia.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I wonder in view of the truncated schedule that we have had this afternoon, if anyone on the majority side knows if we might be bringing up the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the FISA Act, the bipartisan Senate bill that was passed that we certainly have time to deal with this afternoon. I wonder if anyone might be able to let us know if we are bringing that up this afternoon. Mr. Speaker, continuing to reserve, I know it certainly is an important issue. We have had communications from 25 State attorneys general.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, Americans are demanding action on an issue of paramount importance to our national security that is being carelessly ignored by this liberal majority. Nearly 3 weeks, that's how long it's been since Democratic leadership allowed the Protect America Act to expire, removing essential tools from American intelligence officials. Almost 3 weeks, that's how long it's been since Democrats unilaterally disarmed our Nation, leaving us more vulnerable to attack. Americans will not be fooled by Democratic rhetoric that there's no threat or that we're prepared enough, safe enough with pre-9/11 intelligence gathering capabilities. They know we are not adequately prepared. They know we cannot be prepared when Congress, this House, takes crucial tools away from those who are charged with keeping us safe. This careless and irresponsible course of action must not stand. Americans will not stand down and they won't give up until the House does what's right, does what the Senate has already done, and that is to protect the people and the stability of our great Nation. Mr. Speaker, vote on the Protect American Act today.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Murphey Candler Little League on the celebration of its 50th anniversary. The league has enjoyed enormous success and growth since it was founded, as ``Brookhaven Baseball,'' way back in 1958. But most significantly, Murphey Candler has played a prominent role in the lives of generations of young athletes who learned to love our national pastime on their storied fields. Currently, over 850 kids play on 71 different teams in 6 separate leagues. Bringing together the entire community, hundreds of parents and family members participate as board members, coaches, managers, scorekeepers, and most importantly, passionate fans. This association of players and parents, rallied around our beloved baseball and a desire to build a fun and positive environment in which to learn, has provided the means for 50 years worth of improvement, growth, and fun. Instilling the values of determination, teamwork, and fair play, the members and supporters of Murphey Candler Little League have created an enduring source of recreation and community for countless families. I join my colleagues in the United States Congress in offering a sincere congratulation on their 50th anniversary.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, when I go home and I talk to my constituents, they understand and appreciate that it is the primary responsibility of Congress to protect our Nation. All Americans believe we should be able to determine what terrorists are saying to terrorists overseas. Playing politics with our Nation's intelligence capabilities only serves to harm our national security. And despite proof of a bipartisan majority of support in the Senate which passed the FISA bill 68-29, House Democrat leadership allowed these protections to expire without a vote. To expire without a vote. Astounding, Mr. Speaker. We're now 13 days into a unilateral disarmament on the part of our Nation. The ability to obtain the right information at the right time is of critical importance in our struggle against radical terrorists who hide among civilian populations and quietly plot deadly attacks. The Protect America Act moved our intelligence capabilities in the right direction. The Senate understood that in a bipartisan way. The American people understand that. We hope and pray that the Speaker and the Democrat leadership will come to their senses and allow a vote on the Protect America Act.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is now 12:17 p.m. This House came into session today at 10 a.m., 2 hours and 17 minutes ago. Across this Nation, many folks at work are taking a lunch break, others are probably preparing to go to lunch. Those on the second shift are getting ready to go to work. Those on the night shift are resting or sleeping so they can recover from last night's work and get back and do it again tonight. So, where's the House? Mr. Speaker, the House has gone home. The House has gone home. Today, we dealt with seven resolutions, seven suspensions, seven bills that I think every person voted for completely, entirely. I don't mean to belittle these resolutions, five of them were to name post offices, United States Post Offices. And although that's not the most important thing we do, we honor individuals when we do so, and the individuals who were honored today were certainly deserving of that honor. Two other resolutions were to determine what the Congress will do with the United States Capitol during next year's Presidential inauguration. Now, why is this important? Well, it's important because the Protect America Act, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, has been allowed to expire by this leadership, by the Democrat leadership of this House. Thirteen days now we've been blind, a unilateral disarmament of this Nation in our war on terror. You don't have to believe me, Mr. Speaker. A newspaper in Springfield, Massachusetts, yes, Springfield, Massachusetts, said, ``Led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the House let a crucial deadline come and go without even taking a vote on the matter. And it didn't have to be this way. Both parties in the Senate cooperated, setting aside their differences to try to keep the citizenry safe. The House should have done the same thing. Only our enemies gain from this kind of political gamesmanship.'' Mr. Speaker, many Members on our side of the aisle have come to this well and to the microphones over the last 5 or 6 days that we've been in session and talked about the extreme importance of making certain that the Protect America Act is passed. I was on a radio station this morning in our good State of Georgia, and people on the radio show couldn't believe that the House had let this opportunity, this responsibility go. The folks in my district in the 6th District in Georgia believe that the primary responsibility of every single Member who has the privilege of serving in this House is to protect our Nation. Many Members of the House travel to Iraq, back and forth to Iraq, some who went just last week and were told by generals in Iraq that not passing the Protect America Act 13 days ago has led to a decrease in their actionable intelligence in Iraq already. Don't let anybody tell you, Mr. Speaker, that this hasn't put America at greater harm in the last 13 days because it has. Mr. Speaker, it is time for this House to act responsibly. It's time for this Speaker and this Democrat leadership to stand up and make certain that we pass the Protect America Act.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. I am happy to yield.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. I'm happy to yield under the reservation to my friend the leader.