Senate Sends FISA Legislation to President for Signature

After beating back three amendments, the Senate voted 69-28 to pass the FISA Amendments Act and send it to the President to be signed into law. The rejected amendments would have stripped out or limited provisions in the bill granting immunity to telecommunications carriers that assisted with illegal warrantless surveillance for more than five years after September 11. CDT opposed the legislation because it grants immunity and fails to give the FISA court adequate authority to ensure that Americans are protected against unjustified surveillance of their communications. CDT calls on Congress to vigorously exercise its authority to oversee the government’s implementation of the new authority.