nited States Senate July 16, 2008 Mr. Jon Knight 719 Watson Stroct Reidsville, North Carolina 27320 Dear Mr Knight: Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). appreciate hearing from you and would lke to take this opportunity to respond, With the advent of new technologies, laws must be updated to reflect the latest capabilities and ensure their original intent can be carried out. Telecommunications networks hhave rapidly evolved and global communications are now increasingly routed through networks inthe United States. Communication transmissions that originate in a foreign country often times passthrough the US. before reaching the intended destination in another country. This reality, coupled with the increase of internet communications, also much of which passes through hubs in the U.S., rendered the original FISA regulations less effective and drastically in ‘need of modernization, On July 9, 2008, the Senate, with my support, passed a bipartisan bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (H.R, 6304) by a vote of 69-28. This legislation modernizes FISA regulations and provides U.S. officials the tools to effectively monitor a person ‘or group of individuals outside the United States that are reasonably believed to be engaged in planning, coordinating or executing terorist acts against our homeland, Also included in the y le ion componies that cided in the Nationa! Security Agencies’ Terrorist Surveillance Program in the aflermath ofthe 9/11 terorst attacks “These American companies were given the fll assurance ofthe president and the attorney general that their actions had the full cover of legal authority. I, along with a large bipartisan ‘majority, supported this provision because subjecting these companies and private citizens to the threat of tigation, who responded in good faith toa request for assistance by publi officials, ‘would be not oniy unfair but would risk disclosure of classified programs vital to our national security through potential judicial proceedings, Atatime when we are fighting enemies and terrorists from all across the world, we need the ability to gather necessary and crucial information. The United States must use every tool available, consistent with the Constitution and with an eye towards protecting the civil liberties \we all hold dear, to prevent and deter another attack. This modernization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act will ensure our intelligence community continues to have the toolsnecessary to protect America from future attacks, while safeguarding the freedoms of all Americans. Again, thank you for contacting me with your concemis. Should you have any additional ‘questions or comments, please feel free to let me know or visit my website at hitp://dole senate. gov. With my warmest best wishes, oh | CMa lseSF U