This is interesting...I wanted to make sure all of [you] heard that it is our understanding that Majority Leader Hoyer has agreed to our request that the House go into a secret session today. We will discuss the importance of permanently extending the Protect America Act, the flaws in the Democrats’ new FISA legislation, and why immediate passage of the bipartisan, Senate-passed FISA bill is the best solution to protect the American people and our Armed Forces around the world. I believe this will be the first secret session in the House since 1983....now if we get some action on the Senate bill afterwords...
UPDATE: Statement from Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American -- John Boehner:
“Republicans believe a secret session is necessary so that we can have an honest debate about this critical national security program. Democratic leaders consistently cite a lack of access to classified information as their reasoning for not acting responsibly and passing the Senate bill, even though Speaker Pelosi was briefed repeatedly after 9/11 and never objected to these programs. Democratic leaders cannot hide behind these excuses any longer.
“We must give our intelligence officials all the tools they need to keep the American people safe, as well as protect patriotic third parties who have helped us defend this country since 9/11. It’s our hope that Members will come away from this briefing with a better understanding of how important these programs are for the safety and security not only for the American people, but our soldiers on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world. We shouldn’t leave Washington until Congress completes its work and sends President Bush the bipartisan, Senate-passed FISA bill to protect the American people.”
