House Proceeding on Feb 13th, 2008 :: 4:17:28 to 4:23:52
Total video length: 5 hours 35 minutes Stream Tools: Stream Overview | Edit Time

Note: MetaVid video transcripts may contain inaccuracies, help us build a more perfect archive

Views:89 Duration: 0:06:24 Discussion

Previous speech:

Next speech:

4:17:10 to 4:17:28( Edit History Discussion )

as the protect america act and the senate passed bill provide. also at stake is the question of so-called telecom immunity. we know what they are asking. they're asking that the lawsuits against

4:17:28 to 4:17:45( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: the telecommunications companies for participating in the warrantless surveillance program allegedly in violation of the fisa law be foreclosed. now, there are only two possibilities.

4:17:28 to 4:23:52( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Eddie Bernice Johnson

4:17:45 to 4:18:01( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: there are two nair tiffs. either the telecom companies noblely and patriotically assisted the administration in protecting americans against terrorism -- that's one narrative -- or the telecom

4:18:01 to 4:18:20( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: companies knowingly and criminally participated in a criminal conspiracy in violation of the law, aiding and abetting a lawless administration to violate americans' liberties and privacy

4:18:20 to 4:18:32( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: rights against the constitution and against the fisa act. i believe it is the second. but it's not up to me or up to anybody else to decide that. that's why we have courts, courts determine

4:18:32 to 4:18:45( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: questions of law, in fact. people are out there who believe their rights are violated. they brought a lawsuit. let the lawsuits continue. let the courts decide whether the telecom companies acted

4:18:45 to 4:18:58( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: properly or acted in violation of the law. it is not the job of congress to foreclose that judgment. we have been told if we pass telecom immunity and if we fail to control abuse of the

4:18:58 to 4:19:15( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: state secrets privilege that has been abused by the administration to prevent the courts of the congress from reviewing what they have done, there will be no mechanisms in the courts or in congress

4:19:15 to 4:19:27( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: to know, let alone to control, what the executive is doing. the separation of powers established by the constitution to protect our liberties will have been destroyed. that where lies the slow

4:19:27 to 4:19:43( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: death of liberty. it must not be permitted. we've been told by this administration, trust us. i'm not in a very trusting mood these days. nor should we trust any administration without judicial

4:19:43 to 4:19:58( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: and congressional oversite. so it's up to us to -- up oversight. so it's up to us to pass a 21-day extension -- can i have 30 seconds? mr. conyers: i yield the t gentleman one minute. the

4:19:58 to 4:20:13( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. nadler: the senate finally got around to pass aing a bill yesterday. now we're being told we should have no time to work out the

4:20:13 to 4:20:26( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: differences, as we normally try to do. we must take the senate bill site on seen. we passed the bill. they passed the bill. we should have 21 days to work out the differences. american liberty

4:20:26 to 4:20:39( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: is depending on this. and the integrity of this house depends on this. i urge passage of this bill. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman

4:20:39 to 4:20:51( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: from texas. mr. smith: mr. speaker, i yield three minutes to the gentleman from wiscons, mr. sensenbrenner, former chairman of the judiciary committee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman

4:20:51 to 4:21:06( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: is recognized for three minutes. mr. sensenbrenner: mr. speaker, i rise in opposition to this legislation. yesterday, the senate passed a fisa bill 68-29. i don't understand why house democrats

4:21:06 to 4:21:23( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: refuse to bring this bill to the floor, sponsored by senator rockefeller. it makes no sense to block its consideration for another 21 days. why do we keep extding the terrorist loophole?

4:21:23 to 4:21:39( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: it's imperative that the house pass the senate bill today. the rules committee last night rejected a republican amendment to vote on the senate passed bill. the amendment committee refused

4:21:39 to 4:21:53( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: to allow the senate passed bill as a motion to recommit this afternoon. the majority knows that the american people support long-term legislation to keep our country safe. and i guarantee

4:21:53 to 4:22:09( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: that the senate bill would pass the house by a wide margin if the democratic majority would let the house vote on it. instead of passing the senate bill, we continue to waste time on legislation

4:22:09 to 4:22:21( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: of little consequence. the fisa bill expires on friday. there is no more time to waste. we passed a temporary fix last summer, and another extension earlier this year. there has been plenty

4:22:21 to 4:22:36( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: of time to review this and to come up with a permanent fix. if we keep on passing these extensions, we're never going to get a permanent bill, and americans are in jeopardy. this majority

4:22:36 to 4:22:52( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: of passing a short-term extension has gone on long enough. president bush will veto another extension, and the democrats will have no one to blame but themselves. it's time for the majority to

4:22:52 to 4:23:06( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: stop playing political games. we've had plenty of time to debate this issue. the senate finally got it right. it's time that the house does the same. our intelligence community needs the certainty

4:23:06 to 4:23:19( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: of a long-term bill to protect the nation. the senate bill will continue to give our intelligence agencies the tools they need to keep us safe. i urge my colleagues to reject the 21-day extension

4:23:19 to 4:23:39( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: and to pass the senate's bipartisan fisa bill today. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from michigan.

4:23:39 to 4:23:52( Edit History Discussion )

Eddie Bernice Johnson: mr. conyers: mr. speaker, i'm pleased now to recognize the gentlelady from texas, sheila jackson lee, a distinguished member of the judiciary committee, and a subcommittee chairperson on homeland

4:23:52 to 4:24:07( Edit History Discussion )

W. Todd Akin: security, three minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from texas is recognized for three minutes. ms. jackson lee: i thank the distinguished chairman of the judiciary committee,

4:23:52 to 4:26:13( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: W. Todd Akin