Statement of Jim Himes on the Protect America Act of 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 15, 2008
February 15, 2008
Stamford, CT—Businessman and non-profit executive Jim Himes, the Democratic candidate for Congress in Connecticut’s Fourth Congressional District, issued the following statement in response to yesterday’s debate on the Protect America Act of 2007 in the House of Representatives:
"I am very proud of the leadership shown by Democrats yesterday in opposing retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies who may have illegally spied on American citizens without a warrant at the Bush Administration’s request. No person or corporation should ever be above the law. Whether these companies broke the law is a matter for the courts to decide, not for Congress, and certainly not for President Bush.
"I’ve never been more proud to be a constituent of Chris Dodd, who has led on this important fight for months in the Senate. I am also proud of so many of our party’s leaders - including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Democratic Caucus Vice Chair John Larson - who stood up for the Constitution yesterday.
"Congress needs to focus on protecting our nation from the serious threats that exist by passing a modernized FISA law that will give our intelligence professionals all the tools they need to effectively fight terrorism. Members of both parties in the House must refuse to play along with the same tired politics of fear and false choices that are still being offered by this president and his allies like Chris Shays."
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