THE LEADER'S REPORT: WEEK OF FEBRUARY 11, 2008

This morning, I met with the chairmen of the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees and the Senate Intelligence Committee to discuss legislation modernizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.  There is complete agreement that we will act without delay to resolve the differences between the House bill passed in November and the Senate bill sent to us two days ago.

 

While we work to craft strong, bipartisan legislation, intelligence experts have made it clear that the intelligence community has all the tools it needs to keep America safe.  Statements by the President and Republicans that when the Protect America Act expires our nation will be in danger is wrong, divisive, and meant to press the House into simply rubber-stamping the Senate bill.  This is an important issue, and deserves our full consideration.  We will use this district work period to work with Republicans and the Administration to reach agreement and pass a long-term surveillance law as quickly as possible.



Also this week, the House also passed two contempt of Congress citations.  Quite simply, this is not a partisan issue.  If the House of Representatives is to remain an equal branch of government, we cannot relinquish our power to conduct oversight of the executive branch or to issue subpoenas.  This is vital to the proper functioning of our government and upholding our system of checks and balances.

 

Hoyer responded to comments on FISA made by the President on Friday morning, noting that the President and Republicans refused to extend his own law, and that his comments are nothing more than fear-mongering.

Read release [3]

 

More on FISA:

On Thursday, Hoyer spoke on the House Floor in support of passing contempt of Congress citations, noting that this action was necessary to uphold the system of checks and balances and preserve the right of the House of Representatives to issue subpoenas.

Read release [10]

Watch video [11]

 

Hoyer went to the White House on Wednesday to participate in the signing ceremony for the bipartisan economic stimulus bill.  After the President signed it into law, Hoyer praised the stimulus package for offering a much-needed boost to the slowing economy. 

Read release [12]

 

On Tuesday, Hoyer joined over 100 Members of Congress in sending a bipartisan letter to President Hu Jintao of China, urging him to do more to end the conflict in Sudan and stop the Sudanese government's obstruction of peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts.