Boehner backs bill to beef up FISA

WASHINGTON, July 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. House minority leader Tuesday backed a move to tighten surveillance on terror suspects.

Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, the Republican leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, announced his support for a measure proposed by Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, to revise and toughen the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Security Act that regulates lawful intelligence surveillance.

"America's intelligence agencies are the very first line of national defense," Boehner said in a statement. "FISA was written and passed during the Cold War era and should be updated to reflect the sophisticated and adaptive nature of the terrorist threat.

"It is imperative that Congress close the gaping loophole in our intelligence law that prevents operatives from listening to foreign terrorists," Boehner said. "Instead of shielding terrorists, we should be working to prevent future attacks. Unfortunately, the majority in Congress seems satisfied to let serious considerations slide by in favor of theater and political antics."

House Republicans support President George W. Bush's drive for more sweeping powers for intelligence surveillance, but Democrats are concerned that existing powers are being widely abused and argue that the current legislation grants sufficient authority for adequate surveillance.