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For Immediate Release
08/04/2007

Pelosi Requests Conyers and Reyes Offer Legislation to Amend FISA 'As Soon as Possible'

Washington, D.C. - In a letter to Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Silvestre Reyes, Speaker Nancy Pelosi requested that the Committees report to the House "as soon as possible after Congress reconvenes," legislation to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

Pelosi said that S. 1927, the bill passed tonight by the House to temporally amend FISA for six-months contains many provisions that are "unacceptable" and she does not believe that the American people will want to wait that long before corrective action is taken.

Below is the text of the letter:

August 4, 2007

The Honorable John Conyers, Jr.

Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary

2138 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Silvestre Reyes

Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

H 405 The Capitol

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Conyers and Chairman Reyes:

Thank you for your leadership on matters affecting the security of the American people and the protection of the liberties that define our country.

I know that your committees have been working diligently on a proposal by the Administration to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). I also understand that your work has been hindered by the Administration's refusal to provide all of the documents you believe are relevant to your consideration of the proposal.

Tonight, the House passed S. 1927, a bill approved by the Senate yesterday, which is an interim response to the Administration's request for changes in FISA, and which was sought to fill an intelligence gap which is asserted to exist. Many provisions of this legislation are unacceptable, and, although the bill has a six month sunset clause, I do not believe the American people will want to wait that long before corrective action is taken.

Accordingly, I request that your committees send to the House, as soon as possible after Congress reconvenes, legislation which responds comprehensively to the Administration's proposal while addressing the many deficiencies in S. 1927.

Thank you for your attention to this request and for your service to our country.

best regards,

Nancy Pelosi