Pelosi Statement on Passage of Bipartisan FISA Bill

Washington, D.C – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the House passed a bipartisan FISA bill:

"Members of Congress take an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and to protect the American people. Today, the House has proudly passed strong, bipartisan FISA legislation that honors that oath: respecting both the patriotic contributions of the intelligence and law enforcement communities and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people.

"This critical legislation takes key steps to update and strengthen FISA, including placing new limitations on surveillance authorities while still preserving the tools to keep Americans safe, ending the NSA call detail records program, strengthening the integrity of the FISA process and expanding involvement of court-appointed amicus curiae in FISA cases. We are particularly proud that this legislation increases the power of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) to pursue its mission to protect Americans' privacy. The Board has done critical work in assessing the privacy and civil liberties impact of the government's collection activities.

"The Senate will now swiftly take up and pass this legislation and send it to the President's desk for his signature."