WASHINGTON – Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today praised House approval of legislation that modernizes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).  The legislation will close the “terrorist loophole” and help protect our nation by assisting our intelligence agencies monitor terrorists’ communications overseas.

“Our government has no greater duty than to protect the American people,” Capito said.  “This legislation will ensure our intelligence agencies are given the tools they need to monitor terrorists overseas and keep our country safe from attack.  We know that al Qaeda is still plotting against our country, and so we must continue to do everything we can to protect the American people.”

Last week, Capito cosponsored similar legislation in an effort to fix the “terrorist loophole” within FISA.  The loophole was due to outdated language in the FISA law, written in 1978 to protect the civil liberties of Americans, which was actually slowing the intelligence gathering capabilities of our intelligence community and helping protect terrorists overseas. 

The legislation expires in six months, which will give Congress the time to propose any changes should they be necessary. 

The U.S. Senate passed identical legislation on Friday.  The legislation now goes to the president for his signature. 

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