President George W. Bush makes a statement about Congress passing the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in the Rose Garden at the White House July 9, 2008 in Washington, DC.
President Bush: This bill will help our intelligence professionals learn who the terrorists are talking to, what they're saying, and what they're planning. It will ensure that those companies whose assistance is necessary to protect the country will, themselves, be protected from lawsuits for past or future cooperation with the government. It will uphold our most solemn obligation as officials of the federal government to protect the American people.I want to thank the members of my administration who worked hard to get this legislation passed. I thank the Democratic and Republican leadership in the Congress for their efforts, particularly House Majority Leader Hoyer, House Republican Whip Blunt, Senators Bond and Rockefeller, Congressmen Hoekstra, Reyes and Smith.
This legislation shows that even in an election year we can come together and get important pieces of legislation passed.
Thank you.