(Washington, DC) - Congressman Wally Herger today voted in favor of H.R. 6304, which would modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to provide the U.S. intelligence community with the necessary tools to improve collection of foreign intelligence and strengthen national security.   The legislation would also establish clear legal protections for telecommunications companies that complied with U.S. government requests in the days following the September 11th terrorist attacks.  For more information about FISA, please click here and here.  Congressman Herger issued the following statement upon House passage of the measure:

 “I’m very pleased that Congress has passed this long overdue legislation to bring our foreign intelligence capabilities into the 21st century.  Intelligence gathering is critical to our national security and protecting the American people.  The radical jihadists seeking to harm the United States have increased their use of new technologies to carry out their hateful attacks.  We must ensure that all necessary measures are taken to stay a step ahead of the terrorists.”

Note:  The Senate is expected to pass this legislation and the President has indicated that he will sign it into law.