House to recess; no vote on intel bill

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. House of Representatives Democrats were letting an intelligence-gathering law expire, saying U.S. intelligence professionals can still gather information.

Democrats refused to yield to pressure from U.S. President George Bush and House Republicans to consider a U.S. Senate bill reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, The Washington Times reported Friday. The act, however, remains in force until at least August.

"Democrats have made it abundantly clear that we are prepared to sit down with the White House and Republicans," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said on the House floor Thursday. "But we will not succumb to divisiveness and fear-mongering."

House Republicans walked out of the session to protest the Democrats' inaction on FISA.

Bush, saying he would delay a planned African trip, warned that not updating the Protect America Act will "could reopen dangerous gaps in our intelligence."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Bush not only has the authority to continue eavesdropping activities under FISA but also authorities granted under the temporary PPA are effective for a year, the Times' report said.

Pelosi said she instructed committee leaders to work with Senate counterparts on the bill during the Presidents' Day recess, which began Friday. One sticking point is whether to grant immunity to telecommunications companies that cooperated with the federal government.