Washington, DC – Today Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) voted against the FISA Amendments Act, H.R. 6304.

“I have heard some say that the enemies of America take on many forms.  To them I say: let us be sure one of those forms is not our own government,” said Blumenauer.  “I cannot vote for a bill that expands the government’s spying power.  Nor can I vote to give backdoor immunity to telecommunications firms. These firms directly assisted the Bush administration in warrantless spying tactics.  I am dismayed that we could not pass legislation that does more to protect the rights of American citizens. I continue to believe that the intelligence community does not need to violate the rights of Americans in order to protect them. I demand, and Americans deserve, protection of their basic civil rights.”

For the past seven years, Congressman Blumenauer has been an outspoken critic of Republican wiretapping legislation.  He voted against past efforts to expand the Bush administration’s ability to intrude on the lives of innocent Americans, and he supported the expiration of the Protect America Act.